Františka Plamínková: An Extraordinary Female in our History & her Legacy

On February 3, 2025, a conference was held to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Františka Plamínková under the patronage of the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, Miloš Vystrčil, and with the support of the Government Commissioner for Human Rights, Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková.

The conference was full of interesting speakers and inspiring contributions. We are pleased that the Alliance of Responsible Companies Byznys pro společnost was also represented by its director, Pavel Štern, who participated in one of the discussion panels.

The topics of gender equality, support for women, their participation in society, and the balance between work and family remain relevant even after 150 years. Františka Plamínková was an extraordinary female figure. As a politician in the First Republic of Czechoslovakia, she systematically advocated for gender equality, played a crucial role in abolishing the celibacy requirement for female teachers, and was a teacher herself.

Even 100 years ago, she formulated ideas that are still relevant today, emphasizing the need to support working mothers both in employment and family life. Františka Plamínková was also an extraordinarily courageous woman. In 1938, following the Nazi Nuremberg Rally, she wrote a letter to Hitler defending President Beneš and his policies. During the "Heydrichiáda" period, she was arrested and subsequently executed by the Nazis at the Kobylisy shooting range in May 1942 for refusing to publicly condemn the military liquidation of the war criminal and architect of the Holocaust, R. Heydrich, by Czechoslovak paratroopers and the domestic resistance. She sacrificed her life, like many other extraordinary women in the anti-Nazi resistance, for a free and democratic Czechoslovak Republic.

For many years, or rather centuries, women were unable to participate in societal affairs, could not vote, and had to conform to a predominantly male-dominated world order. It was only after two bloody world wars, in which women demonstrated extraordinary capabilities and bravery both on the home front and in combat and resistance, and with the rise of liberal democratic systems in the twentieth century, that their status gradually improved through voting rights, equality, and global human rights policies, positively impacting their personal lives. Slowly, they began to realize their plans and fulfill their lives according to their own visions—both professionally and personally.

We need to shift the societal debate—the question of why women should be significantly represented and involved in the functioning of society has long been answered affirmatively. The discussion now needs to focus on how we will implement and achieve this in practice. Good examples and inspiration are certainly available.

Gender equality in society and the labor market is still surrounded by numerous prejudices and stereotypes. It is often trivialized, and women who speak about it are frequently labeled as activists, feminists, or progressives. Františka Plamínková was all of these—an activist, a feminist, and a progressive—this is precisely what made her extraordinary and why she was commemorated in the Senate yesterday!

Many things have changed and continue to improve. In the Czech Republic, we must particularly recognize responsible companies that have made great strides in supporting women in the workplace and in their career development while helping them balance professional growth with family obligations. These companies set up favorable conditions not only for women but also for men, offering flexible work arrangements where possible, monitoring the so-called Gender Pay Gap, and supporting women in further education and career advancement to leadership and managerial positions. However, the Czech Republic is still far from reaching the necessary balance of gender equality in society and the labor market.

Public discourse needs to move beyond the burden of deep-rooted prejudices and stereotypes about women and focus on new challenges and topics. Responsible companies and employers are already playing a significant role in this process. Politicians and journalists, who shape public discourse, can also make a considerable impact. This is not a battle of women against men, as it is often misinterpreted. The key question is, how can we contribute together to ensuring equal status for women and men in society? How should they, and how can they, respect each other and collaboratively participate in the functioning and development of society?

Not every woman has to be a top manager, researcher, or politician. She does not have to enter traditionally male-dominated fields. She can stay home with children, prioritizing family as her main life focus. She may choose a caregiving role or another path. However, what is crucial is that she has the freedom to choose—without prejudice and without judgment. That is why it is essential to create the right conditions in society and the labor market to enable women to fully realize their potential.

The issue of gender equality and support for women is especially critical in today's turbulent times when we see a regression in many regions of the world—a retreat from the universal values established after WWII, a departure from fundamental human rights, democratic values, open societies, and liberal democracy, including mutual respect. We must not allow a return to an era where women were confined to household roles or relegated to the background.

Women like Františka Plamínková deserve our respect, admiration, and gratitude! She dedicated her life to achieving gender equality and fought for an open, democratic Czechoslovak Republic. She ultimately sacrificed her life under Nazi occupation for her ideals. It is our responsibility and duty to preserve her legacy, as well as the legacy of other extraordinary and courageous women who helped shape the democratic and free history of our republic.