06-30-2004, 09:04 PM
It was initiated on June 21, 1945, only six weeks after the war in Europe had ended. This was a male-dominated time with lots of male heroes. A muscleman as seen on war memorials is converted on the order into a labor hero by replacing his weapons with the symbols of labor. Nobody at that time seems to have thought of the possibility that a woman might become a labor hero.
The women proved them wrong. The figure below shows a 1st Class Peoples Labor Order awarded to a woman. Bulgaria had the tradition of using a bow on orders for women and not the regular suspension (kind of sexist also). Since old habits die slowly, the Peoples Labor Order was issued with a bow but without a fastener. Women have safety pins, don't they?
It took the authorities more than 30 years to realize that their Labor Order was sexist, and they finally changed to a neutral design.
The women proved them wrong. The figure below shows a 1st Class Peoples Labor Order awarded to a woman. Bulgaria had the tradition of using a bow on orders for women and not the regular suspension (kind of sexist also). Since old habits die slowly, the Peoples Labor Order was issued with a bow but without a fastener. Women have safety pins, don't they?
It took the authorities more than 30 years to realize that their Labor Order was sexist, and they finally changed to a neutral design.
Dietrich
