An inedited Romanian reaction to collectivization: the riot of the Mărceşti women

The collectivization process took place in Romania between 1949 and 1962. The legal and mostly illegal mechanisms to achieve collectivization evoked negative reactions from the Romanian peasants. One of the reaction forms against the process was the riots or the rebellions. Such was the case of the women from Marcesti (Dobra parish, Dâmboviţa County, Romania). In February 1961, when Tudor Vladimirescu Collective Agricultural Farm (CAF) of Mărceşti was about to start its activity, 150 women rioted against collectivization. Their riot was rapidly reprimanded by the forces of order and eventually CAF Tudor Vladimirescu would become one of the most productive such collective farms in the region (department) of Ploieşti. The effects of the repression on the women and men of the village were manifold.