Minister for Gender Equality celebrated International day on gender equality by pulling a stroller and carrying shopping bags.
With a sign "a women" on the lapel of his jacket and huge determination, Mr. Dienstbier stood at the start of the race called "Do we have same chances?" To show solidarity, president of the Czech Women's Lobby Jana Chržová,seconded him in a role of man. Happening on the occasion of theInternational Day on gender equality was organized to alert people who were passing by Charles Square for persistent obstacles and differences in the world of men and women.
First station was titled "The myth of beauty"where Minister Dienstbier,like majority of men, observed with understanding in his face and then rather quickly moved to the next station, where he was impatiently awaited by Jana Chržová. As the „man“ she did not have to linger by making herself beautiful due to reaching higher salary in labour-market. However Mr. Dienstbier found on his payroll the sum 6,233 crowns lower. Nowadays pay gap between women and men who are equally qualified, it is one of the main symbols of persistent inequalities between women and men in the Czech Republic.
Another period in women life are motherhood and parenthood mastered Minister Jiri Dienstbier with an overview and when repackaging and putting fictitious baby in the stroller recalled the time when him and his partner took care of already adult son. Jana Chržová in the role of a man was solidar partner and was not necessarily trying to win. On the contrary, she was patiently waiting on each station. Mr. Dienstbier with stroller and baby was now ready to do housework and shopping bag and then he could peacefully retired. Women retire earlier than men as well as they receive less money. Jana Chržová as a man had to stay at work longer to „deserve“ higher pension.He pension was then about 2,170 crowns higher. The goal of the race“Do we have same chances?" symbolized by the average life expectancy for women and men was specified accorfing to statistics therefore the number was closer to men as far as they die 7 years earlier than women the average age of whom live for women and men was, according to statistics prepared closer to the men who died about 7 years earlier than women. Man and woman, thus Jana Chržová and Jiri Dienstbier, completed a relay race, "Do we have same chances?" with full dedication. The battle was very balanced,it was impossible to choose a winner.