Zemzyulina N. Gender Aspect of European Cooperative Movement (first third of 20th century)

Conceptual and methodical foundations and scientific methods of investigating problems of women's integration into international cooperative movement are being contemplated and justified based on diverse sources of data, national and foreign historiography. The participation of women, in particular rural and laboring women, in various European cooperative organizations were treated by Liberals and Socialists as an important course towards socialization and economic independence of this social element. Measures taken by European leaders towards activation of women's participation in cooperative movement with the purpose of solving a complex of household issues are being analyzed based on archive sources. The conclusion has been made regarding predomination of political and ideological interests over economic reasonability in the process of conducting campaign for increasing women's participation in cooperative movement in Eastern Europe and solving economic issues in Western Europe.