Cultural Studies paper by Pack, Martha (Marty)
Catholicism / Orthodoxy and Domestic Violence in Eastern European States
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
Eastern Europe’s religious historical perseverance has come into conflict with the changing role of women. Influence from the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Catholic Church have direct and indirect political influence in Eastern Europe. Strong influences still exist for the subjugation of women into family roles and fierce pressure from women’s organizations has caused a backlash from the political apparatus. This backlash exacerbates the inequality of women. I will do an in depth comparison of Hungary and other emerging democracies through the lens of international human rights norms. How will a country hold onto its identity while adapting to ever changing societal demands?
This paper will be a comparative study on domestic violence in Eastern European countries and their adherence to stated UN norms. I will look at the issue of gender identity, with an emphasis on religious influence towards societal behavior. This paper compares the compliance of Hungary with newer Eastern European states through the lens of domestic violence.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Martha (Marty) Pack is a Political Science graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University located in Chicago, IL. She graduated Suma Cum Laude with her bachelor’s in Communication/Production from NEIU in 2010. The majority of her undergrad was spent as a Women’ Studies major. Balancing her family and school life, she finished her program through a self directed degree, which led to human rights documentary film making. She would like to pursue her PhD researching women’s issues in Eastern Europe.