WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY

WOMEN DURING THE STALIN ERA EFFECTS OF THE STALIN REVOLUTION  The “New Soviet Woman”  Women = models of upright citizenship & clean living  Supportive to husbands  Housework now took on positive dimension  Loyalty & devotion to state  Domestic virtues celebrated “We serve the people!”

WOMEN DURING THE STALIN ERA POST-WAR WOMANHOOD  Old gender distinctions restored & institutionalized  New family code of 1944  Cult of Motherhood reached new heights  Emphasis on domesticity intensified  Women’s contribution to war effort downplayed, even disparaged

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING THE KHRUSHCHEV ERA  “Thaw” re-opened discussion of women’s issues & question of inequality  But Soviet economy heavily reliant on female labor  Leadership unwilling to change economic priorities  Similarly unwilling to challenge male authority in home

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING THE KHRUSHCHEV ERA  Changes in reproductive & family policies  Abortion legalized again  But no contraception made available  Extended maternity leave  Discussions about changing family code of 1944 – but little change occurred

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING THE KHRUSHCHEV ERA  “A Man’s Game”  High level politics still controlled by men  Khrushchev reintroduced “Zhensoviety”  Women’s opportunities only expanded in “feminine” roles  Ekaterina Furtseva – Minister of Culture & Politburo member

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING THE KHRUSHCHEV ERA  Women’s work  Continued to be undervalued  Khrushchev tried to lighten load & increase wages  But little change – and double burden continued  Promised increased production of appliances & consumer goods

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING THE BREZHNEV ERA  Brezhnev went further in addressing women’s issues  1965: Divorce made easier  1968: Paternity suits legalized  Birth control became available on limited basis  More consumer goods produced  Places in child care centers increased

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING THE BREZHNEV ERA  Increased dissatisfaction among women  Regime still concerned with population levels  Encouraged people to have more kids through incentives  Discouraged abortion, limited amount of birth control  Continued to promote women as moralizing & civilizing force

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING THE BREZHNEV ERA  Some accomplishments for women  Literacy & education  Professional opportunities  Financial independence  More authority in the home Valentina Tereshkova

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING PERESTROIKA  Glasnost meant open & widespread discussion of issues  Challenged Soviet claim of emancipation  Also opened up challenge to emancipation – “Back to the Home” movement  Now advocated choice – work or home – not both

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING PERESTROIKA  Introduction of market mechanisms caused high unemployment for women  Numbers of women in politics dropped as quotas removed  Economic instability led to rise in abortions & decline in birth rate  More emphasis on physical beauty

WOMEN IN SOVIET SOCIETY WOMEN DURING PERESTROIKA  Some positive developments  Many independent women’s groups formed  Women became involved in social & political movements  Many new opportunities to voice opinions & attempt to influence policy