Social Developments Flashcards
What happened to the labour market under War Communism?
Labour conscription introduced. Some didn’t sign up for labour because they had no choice in job
What happened to the labour market after the civil war?
Demobilisation of the Red Army and food shortages lead to mass unemployment (1 million by 1926)
What were Arteli’s?
Groups of workers offering group services - common in the NEP to get work
What did the Five Year Plans do to unemployment?
In 1930 full urban employment was announced. Problem of labour shortages began
What were the impacts of full employment in the Five Year Plans?
Ex-peasants and worker divisions in factories
Unemployment benefits cancelled in 1930
Skilled workers paid more as incentive
More women hired (especially in WW2)
What caused severe housing problems throughout the USSR?
Urban populations rapid increase (new cities created eg. Donbass) alongside the government not prioritising house building
Made much worse by WW2
What social benefits were available in the 1930’s?
Cheap food
Clothes
Trade unions provided leisure and two weeks holiday pay
Some healthcare
this was all possible due to the Five Year Plans
How effective was healthcare under Lenin and Stalin?
Effective with limited resources
Eradicated epidemics such as Lice-spread typhus in 1920
What did Khrushchev promise by 1980?
Full functioning communism, everyone would be thriving
What was the effect in 1980 when Khrushchev’s promise did not come true?
People lost hope in the idea of communism
What happened to unemployment under developed socialism?
Full employment continued, real wages rising 50% 1967-77
What was the negative effect of full employment?
Too much job security meant low productivity therefore efficiency
Low wages for everyone meant minimum wage introduced in 1956
What was the Nomenklatura?
A party run system that put every enterprise under their control (farmers brought under it in 1974)
Increased in importance
What was the negative effect of the Nomenklatura?
Increased nepotism
How did Khrushchev improve housing?
‘Khrushchoby’s’ built - standard housing built nation-wide. Did not solve the housing problem
What was Khrushchev and Brezhnev’s era called?
Developed Socialism
How did healthcare improve under developed socialism?
Increased technology and an increase in Sanatoria’s (medical rest homes)
Central Asia massively underfunded
How stable was the era of developed socialism?
On the surface, often quite stable. However there were uprisings (Hungary 1956) and many protests
Increased alcoholism and divorce rates
What did the Bolsheviks aim to do in terms of women?
Emancipate them (set them free)
What was Zhenetdel? (1917)
A branch of the Central Committee focused on improving women’s lives
What laws about women were passed in 1918?
Equality laws: Abortion legalised Equal pay Women don't have to obey their husband anymore Divorce made less expensive/easier
Did the laws regarding women help their lives? (1918)
Very little, they were not enforced properly
Easier divorce left many women fending for themselves and their child
What was the Civil Wars impact on women?
Recruited to factories and Red Army
Made new laws on women a low priority
Women left homeless and destitute
What was the effect of women liberation laws on Islamic women? (1920’s)
Strong backlash from Muslim communities meant a softer approach was taken in the 1930’s
Why did Stalin close Zhenotdel in the 1930’s?
He claimed gender equality had been achieved
What were the ‘difficult times’ in the 1930’s effect on women?
They were forced to work in very low paid jobs
Men often deserted women as they could not live off each others salaries
What group of women prospered during the 1930’s?
Wives of the Nomenklatura
What was women’s role in WW2?
800,000 took part in the Red Army
Worked in low skilled factory jobs
many unemployed at the end of the war
What was women’s role in politics?
Minimal, 16% of party were women in 1932
First female presidium member in 1957
Examples of women role models? (used as propaganda)
Tereshkova (first female in space)
Kollontai (first female commissar)
The hard working peasant always female in propaganda
What were the features of the 1918 family code?
Divorce made easier
Abortion made legal
Crèches were encouraged
What were the negative effects of the 1918 family code?
High divorce rates Abortion used as a contraception method Low birth rate More orphans *broke up families*
Components of Stalin’s Great retreat? (1936)
Free marriages lost their legal status
Abortions outlawed
Male homosexuality made illegal
Maternity leave extended 16 weeks
What was Khrushchev’s view of women’s role?
Emphasised women’s role in the family (wanted to restore social stability)
Grandparents told to take up a parenting role
What were Brezhnev’s policies regarding the family?
Housing provision increased
Clamped down on alchoholism
Promoted big families
Attempted to reduce divorce rates (1968 family code)
What did Lunachevsky attempt to do? (Commissariat of Education 1917…)
Provide free, universal education to everyone with equality
Had education provision improved by the 1930’s?
Yes, children in education was at 20million by 1931
Rural areas had better teachers after the Great Terror forced urban teachers to move
What changes to education were made in the 1980’s?
Some turned into specialist/elite schools - less emphasis on equality
What obstacles were there for education in the USSR?
Lack of funding/resources
Teachers had a low wage and status
Tuition fees briefly in the 1940’s
Nationalists in republics saw it as Russification
Families preferred children to work so they could provide
What changes were made to higher education?
1929 - requirements dropped and quota system introduced
Khrushchev increased vocational emphasis, also made graduates work 2 years on a state chosen job (unpopular)
How was illiteracy reduced?
‘Liquidation points’ set up to teach basics
Adult schools for drop outs
Literacy league used to promote literacy
What was the illiteracy rate in 1917?
65%
How was education beneficial to the Communists?
instilled values of russification, socialism from a young age
What were Lenin’s changes to education methods?
Abolished texts, homework and tests. Focused on practical work
What were Stalin’s changes to education methods in the Great retreat? (1936)
Traditional discipline
Lecturing
Textbooks provided by government (correlating with Stalin’s views)
What did party youth groups (Komsomol - ages 14 to 28) do?
General activities, some military style. Learnt party values whilst doing it
Sometimes put to practical use such as taking part in the Virgin Land Scheme
