Studia Ethnologica Pragensia (Dec 2015)
Ženský Sokol
Abstract
Although today is a presence of women in Sokol obvious, in the past it was not as the text shows. The text deals with the development of the women’s role in the Sokol. Based on the literature the author focuses on several topics — the birth of the first women’s gymnastics club Tělocvičný spolek paní a dívek pražských; the creation of the women’s department in the Sokol; important women in the Sokol history (Klemeňa Hanušová, Marie Provazníková) — those are the main studied questions. The paper deals with the development of the women’s role in Sokol. At the beginning, Sokol was only men’s gymnastic club. The first women’s gymnastics club Tělocvičný spolek paní a dívek pražských was created in 1869. Sofie Podlipská was elected its first mayor (president) and Klementina Hanušová became its first trainer. The first women department in Sokol was created in 1895 in the Sokol Královský Vyšehrad. The Czech Sokol Organization was established in 1889 but there was not ideal conditions for women there. According to 1895 Sokol Resolution, not only could not women walk in slet parade, but they also did not have the right to vote Sokol representatives. During the First World War women were active with both training and charity cooperation. After the War, there was a lot of enthusiasm in Sokol caused by creating of the Czechoslovak Republic. In 1920 there was held 7th slet that was revolutionary by women presence on slet parade. Marie Provazníková, new Sokol first trainer who participated in preparation of the 9th, 10th and 11th slet, emigrated in 1984 to the USA where she was also an active Sokol woman. In Communist Czechoslovakia, Sokol women involved at practicing for Spartakiadas, which allowed them spreading Sokol ideas. In 2010, first woman was elected mayor of Czech Sokol Organization, however now it is a full time job.
