7.4 Social Change In Russia

Question 1

What impact did Bolshevik policies have on marriage (positive + negative)

Answer 1

Positive:

• easier to get a divorce
• paid maternity leave
• church weddings replaced with civil marriages — reduced influence of religion

Negative:

• USSR had the highest marriage and divorce rate
• many women abandoned when pregnant

Question 2

Women and employment

Answer 2

WW1 - number of women working doubled

Civil war - men given preference for jobs, women mainly had textiles work. Had to work 8hrs outside of the home and 5hrs in domestic tasks

Question 3

Women and politics

Answer 3

1919- women’s department of the sovnarkom
This focused on social services and education

Very little women were voting

Question 4

Education and schooling under the Communist party

Answer 4

Each child received 9yrs of free universal education

Curriculum changed to include learning about communism and the revolution

Practical education focussing on industrial training

Lack of discipline in schools as the authority of teachers was reduced

NEP meant that universal schooling was abandoned and many children had to leave school.

Question 5

What were Youth organisations/ what types were there

Answer 5

Pioneers:
Children under 15
Boy Scouts

Komsomol:
Young people ages 15-20s
Used by communists to take propaganda into towns and villages through their activities
Preparation for entry into the communist party

Question 6

Art under the communist party

Answer 6

Art:
Focused on socialist realism
Focussed on Red army, workers and peasants
Optimistic
Made sure the message of the revolution was understood by everyone

Question 7

Writers under communist party

Answer 7

Gov wanted to control writers in Russia
Had to praise communism
Were allowed to write what they wanted unless it was counter revolutionary