EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION PAPER ON HISTORY OF THE WOMEN'S UNIT OF SOKOL BRNO I (1902-1934)

This paper deals with the foundation of the Sokol organization in Brno. However, the main focus is put on the origins of exercise in the Sokol Brno I women's units that were the biggest and the oldest unions in Moravia. The paper analyses the origins of the emancipation movement of Czech women at the beginning of the 20th century, in relation to two culture centres (Prague and Brno). Among others, it recalls a significant period of Brno's cultural history before World War 1 from two points of view: the development of physical education and the origins of the Brno women's movement. Obstacles that often impeded the enforcement of progressive thoughts are depicted. Prague was the leading city of Czech national life in the 19th century. However, it could not become a central point for Moravia due to the distance factor. Therefore, Brno adopted this role, although its situation was more complicated, as its population was mostly German at that time. And the German population did not support the origin of Czech national emancipation. The Sokol movement was not an exception in the process of gradual delimitation mostly against the Germans in progress since 1860 which eventually led to national liberation and independence.