3.1 Social devs = Leninist + Stalinist society, classless society, proletariat Flashcards
1
Q
classless society
Abolition of Class Hierarchy (November 1917)
A
- Titles and privileges disappeared; everyone became a plain citizen (“grazhdanin”).
- Party members were addressed as “tovarishch” (comrade).
- Former nobility and bourgeoisie were not allowed to work, forced into menial tasks, and had their houses requisitioned for workers’ communal living (kommunalka).
2
Q
classless society
Class Warfare and Rationing During the Civil War
A
- Rations were based on work value:
- Workers and soldiers received the most.
- Essential civil servants and professionals, like doctors, received less.
- burzhui received barely enough to survive.
- middle-class individuals resorted to selling possessions or prostitution to survive.
- was intensified during the 1930s and beyond.
- aimed to create a socialist state with citizens who were socially responsible and committed to the community.
- Socialist man envisioned as publicly engaged, prioritizing the community over individual interests.
3
Q
The proletariat
Early Bolshevik Rule
A
- Initial worker power curtailed quickly; strict labour discipline enforced.
- Workers faced harsh penalties for failing to meet targets by 1921.
4
Q
The proletariat
Civil War and NEP Period
A
- Internal passports issued to prevent job changes.
- Unions used to control workers.
- Harsh conditions persisted, worsening under Stalin as urban labour force nearly doubled by 1932.
5
Q
The proletariat
Industrialisation Under Stalin
A
- Seven-day workweeks, longer hours, and penalties for absenteeism.
- Strikes illegal; damaging machinery or quitting without permission criminalized.
- Wage differentials and bonuses introduced in 1931 to incentivize productivity.
- Stakhanovite movement promoted extreme productivity goals, pressuring management.
6
Q
The proletariat
Living Conditions and Social Advancement
A
- Industrialisation created social advancement opportunities but living conditions were poor.
- Urban workers faced cramped housing, inadequate sanitation, and overcrowded transport.
- Shops often empty, frequent queues and shortages.
7
Q
The proletariat
Economic Realities
A
- Real wages increased during the Second Five Year Plan but were lower in 1937 than in 1928.
- Rationing ended in 1935, but high market prices persisted.
- Party elites had access to more goods; ordinary workers saw stagnant or declining living standards.
8
Q
Stakhanovite movement
A
- Aleksei Stakhananov - miner
- aug 1935 extracted in 5h 45m 102 tonne sof coal - norammly expected 14x that lenght
- hailed as example of human determination
- comps arranged to recreate his preformnce
- became way of enforcing management to support workers to increase production
9
Q
social change of woman - lenin
Pre-Revolution Status
A
- Peasant women primarily managed household tasks and children, participated in farming.
- Had no legal privileges, including inheritance rights.
10
Q
social change of woman - lenin
Post-Revolution Policies
A
- November 1917: Sex discrimination outlawed; women granted property rights.
- Civil Marriage: Only civil marriages recognized, diminishing church influence.
- Divorce: Made easier and less expensive.
- 1920: Abortion legalized to combat high mortality from illegal abortions.
- Contraception: Free advice provided.
- 1926 Family Code: Granted common law marriages the same rights as civil marriages.
- 1928: Wedding rings banned.
11
Q
social change of woman - lenin
Work and Reality
A
- Women given and expected to take paid employment, in addition to household responsibilities.
- Many women worked on land, in factories, and offices while also managing household chores and family needs, often involving long hours in food queues.
- Equal educational rights for girls, leading some to careers previously inaccessible to women.
12
Q
social change of woman - lenin
Grim Reality
A
The double burden of work and home responsibilities made life challenging, with constant toil for most women.
13
Q
Effect of Stalinist Policies on Women
Traditional Policies in the 1930s
A
- Falling pop growth due to purges and poor living conditions on collectives and in kommunalki.
- War Fears: Contributed to the shift towards traditional family values.
- Propaganda: Emphasized family, portraying Stalin as a father figure and ideal family man.
- Marriage: Importance re-emphasized; wedding rings reintroduced, new wedding certificates issued.
- Media Representation: Shift from the muscular, plainly dressed women of the 1920s to more feminine family women with children.
14
Q
Effect of Stalinist Policies on Women
1936 Policy Reversals
A
- Divorce: Large fees introduced, men required to contribute 60% of income in child support.
- Adultery: Criminalized; names of male offenders published.
- Contraception: Banned except on medical grounds.
- Family Incentives: Tax exemptions for families with six or more children; bonus payments for families with up to ten children.
15
Q
Effect of Stalinist Policies on Women
Women’s Employment
A
- Despite encouragement to leave paid employment upon marriage, many women continued working.
- Female industrial workers increased from 3 million in 1928 to 13 million in 1940.
- By 1940, 43% of the industrial workforce was female.
- Women’s participation in education doubled, and many worked on collective farms.
- State nurseries, crèches, canteens, and child clinics expanded to support working women.
- Women earned on average 40% less than men, with higher administrative posts largely held by men
