Salinist Women

Question 1

What were Stalin’s policies like in 1930s?

Answer 1

-more traditional
-driven by fall population growth, fears of war

Question 2

What became the new focus for propaganda?

Answer 2

-‘the family’ where Stalin presented as farther figure + ‘ideal family man’
-divorce + abortion attacked

Question 3

What happened with marriage?

Answer 3

-marriage re-emphed
-wedding rings reintroduced + new style wedding certificates issued

Question 4

What happened to women in film + art?

Answer 4

-portrayed in new way - less muscular like Lenin’s women who needed help rebuild Rus
-feminine family woman adoring children

Question 5

What measures were introduced regarding marriage that reversed the earlier changes?

Answer 5

-large fines introduced deter divorce + adultery criminalised
-added penalty men expected contribute 60% income in child support

Question 6

What happened regarding contraception?

Answer 6

-contraception banned
-only permitted on medical grounds

Question 7

What happened regarding larger families?

Answer 7

-financial incentives for large families
-tax exemptions for 6+ + bonus payments for every additional child to ten in family

Question 8

What continued despite these new measures?

Answer 8

-many women continued work
-female Ind workers grew from 3m 1928 to 13m 1940 = 43%

Question 9

What happened to women in education?

Answer 9

-doubled during period + large no. women worked in collectives
-growth state nurseries, crèches + canteens helped women cope with work + family

Question 10

What remained the same with divorce despite measures to change it?

Answer 10

-divorce rates remained high - 37% Moscow 1934

Question 11

What happened regarding abortions and marriage?

Answer 11

-150,000 abortion to every 57,000 live births
-1937 91% men + 82% women in 30s married - 1928-40 saw falling rate population growth