Transition and Gender: Whose Transition Was More Adaptive?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the typology of female in transition countries, and investigate their adaptation to democracy and market economy and subjective well-being.We first test the nexus between adaptation and life satisfaction, and then analyze heterogenous effect to female with various demographic background. There are four key findings from this study. First, there is a contrast between adaptation to democracy and market economy and preference to state intervention. Female population in transition tend to adapt less to democracy and market economy while support for state involvement to solve social problems. Second, similar to male, educated, healthy, rich, self-employed, and married female showed higher level of adaptation. Third, wage workers and unemployed female showed negative sign of preference for democracy, while self-employed female showed positive sign. Last, unlike male population, married and single female, compared to widowed, separated, and divorced one, adapt more to democracy and market economy, and against for government ownership while support competition.

Keywords: transition, gender, life satisfaction, adaptability, democracy, market economy