theme 4: social developments 1917-85

Question 1

when were labour exchanges (job centres) set up

Answer 1

1918

Question 2

Soviet government announces full employment in …

Answer 2

1930

Question 3

when was minimum wage introduced + pension provision expanded

Answer 3

1956

Question 4

expansion of the housing programme happened in

Answer 4

1956-65

Question 5

when did the government reduce the working week

Answer 5

1957

Question 6

working hours in 1956 vs 1958

Answer 6

1956: 48 hours per week
1958: 41 hours per week

Question 7

when were regular wages introduced for collective farmers

Answer 7

1966

Question 8

when was the work passport system extended to the rural population

Answer 8

1974

Question 9

problems caused by Stalin’s push to industrialise (employment)

Answer 9

created full employment, no incentives for workers since they have a garunteed job
technology was old so everything had to be done by hand, there was a labour shortage

Question 10

effects of civil war on workers

Answer 10

collapse of industrial production meant there was a drift of workers out of the countryside and into factory work where income was more reliable -> food shortages
people way fighting in civil war lead to shortage of workers -> many factories closed down

Question 11

how did the government deal with shortage of workers during the civil war

Answer 11

issued a decree that forced people without employment to take any work offered to them
1918 -> war communism -> labour conscription
labour exchanges set up to supervise the hiring of workers

Question 12

issue with the labour exchanges

Answer 12

many workers did not register for fear of being forced into a job they didn’t like

Question 13

problems of the end of the civil war on the workforce

Answer 13

millions of discharged soldiers returned to civilian work
most of the women left their jobs for the returning men, leaving many homeless
food shortages in the countryside lead to a wave of workers and peasants coming into the cities
unemployment in 1926 was over a million

Question 14

why did many women give up their jobs after there civil war

Answer 14

returning men were often better trained
seen as more important for men to provide for their family
discrimination in the workforce, 70% of those who were fired were female

Question 15

perks of the end of the civil war on the workforce

Answer 15

NEP meant real wages started to rise for skilled workers

Question 16

what are real wages

Answer 16

income expressed in terms of purchasing power as opposed to actual money received.
“what happens to real wages depends on changes in both money wages and prices”

Question 17

features of the job market under the NEP

Answer 17

use of arteli in recruitment
growth in wage differentials (highest paid vs lowest paid)
“shock brigades” to work on construction projects

Question 18

what were arteli

Answer 18

groups of workers, usually from the same trade, who offered their services as a group and were paid as a group. lead by older members who organised jobs and distributed pay based on arbitrary factors such as age and sometimes even beard length.
Government considered them a backward feature of the economy

Question 19

number of hired workers in 1928 vs 1937

Answer 19

1928: 11.6 million
1937: 27 million

Question 20

effects of the 5 year plans on the workforce

Answer 20

excessive targets meant factories had to employ extra workers
new factories and building works always opening -> lots of employment opportunities
because of high demand, by 1932 there were labour shortages

Question 21

effects of full employment on the workers

Answer 21

swamping of old industrial workers by new peasant workers lead to divisions in the workplace
restrictions places on trade unions, no longer allowed to negotiate with managers –> poor working conditions
October 1930, unemployment benefit was cancelled -> trade unions left to provide social insurance such as compensation for injuries
low productivity, 1927 the average soviet worker produced 1/2 of what an average British worker produced

Question 22

effects of labour shortages

Answer 22

workers who were unhappy with their jobs could easily find a new one, no one stayed in jobs long enough to properly learn the trade

Question 23

how did the government combat labour shortages

Answer 23

1931: wage difference between skilled and unskilled workers increased
1932: internal passport introduced that was needed to change jobs, started distributing rations at the workplace so those in between jobs didn’t get them
1934: piecework introduced (paid by the amount you produce), however high wages were not a great incentive as there was little to buy in shops
1937: 30% of workers still charged jobs 4 times a year

Question 24

bolshevik policy on housing in 1917

Answer 24

took big houses from rich people to partition and rent to the families of workers. meant to be assigned by need, rather they were mostly given to those higher up in the party.
not enough housing to meet the needs of all

Question 25

effects of the 5 year plans on housing

Answer 25

enormous growth of towns put strain on housing. Housing given low priority whilst massive influx of workers meant demand was high

Question 26

population of Moscow 1929 vs 1936

Answer 26

1929: 2.2 million 1936: 4.1 million

Question 27

population of Magnitogorsk 1929 vs 1932

Answer 27

1929: 25 1932: 250,000

Question 28

effects of housing not matching population growth during 5 year plans

Answer 28

workers slept in tents, makeshift huts, or in the factories they worked in

Question 29

living conditions in 1936

Answer 29

only 6% of people rented units with more than 1 room 24% of workers only rented part of 1 room 5% lived in a kitchen or corridor 25% lived in dormitories

Question 30

cost of renting

Answer 30

living costs were low, most families spent less than 8% of income on housing. however this did not make up for the fact that most lived without hot water or electricity

Question 31

effects of WW2 on housing

Answer 31

Stalingrad lost 90% of housing | Leningrad lost 1/3 of housing during the siege of the city (1941-44)

Question 32

who provided most social benefits for workers

Answer 32

trade unions since they no longer had any real economic or political power they improved the lives of workers by organising sports facilities, meetings, and film shows

Question 33

social benefits provided for workers by trade unions

Answer 33

given 2 weeks paid holiday, often taken on cheap subsidised vacations to state resorts sick pay given

Question 34

number of doctors 1929 vs 1940 + reason for change

Answer 34

1928: 70,000 1940: 155,000 many doctors had fled Russia soon after the revolution in 1917, weakening the healthcare that the government could provide so they increased the number of training

Question 35

what was soviet healthcare like

Answer 35

lots of healthcare available, not always high quality good sanitation, all sanitary inspectors were given the same status as doctors patients had no choice in healthcare and all medications had to be paid for (at a low subsidised rate)

Question 36

social services in cities vs rural areas by 1953

Answer 36

cities: soviet worker was likely to be employed, housed, and in receipt of basic social services rural: services were primitive, if that area even had any

Question 37

when did krushchev claim that the soviet society would begin to enjoy the benefits of socialism

Answer 37

1961

Question 38

employment under developed socialism

Answer 38

1977 constitution guaranteed full employment. only temporary unemployment for seasonal workers and fresh graduates employment does not equal job satisfaction, several pointless jobs invented to allow full employment real wages rose 50% 1967-77, workers had more spending power

Question 39

job security under developed socialism

Answer 39

1977 constitution made it difficult to fire someone for anything (laziness, incompetence, or alcoholism) managers often ignored work discipline, many workers were absent or moonlighting minimum wage introduced in 1956 to try stop moonlighting and keep everyone above the poverty line

Question 40

improved material benefits under developed socialism

Answer 40

9th five year plan 1971-75 set a higher growth rate for consumer goods than heavy industry targets were not met but they're was still improvement

Question 41

how did the nomenklatura system bring stability under developed socialism

Answer 41

in order to be promoted, you had to be recommended by a sponsor within the party. Workers had to show loyalty to the party. party membership grew because of this

Question 42

communist party membership 1953 vs 1980

Answer 42

1953: 6.9 million 1980: 17 million

Question 43

how did education under developed socialism

Answer 43

compulsory education age 7-15 meant literacy levels reached over 99% by the 1980s compulsory school meant it was easy to get propaganda to the children

Question 44

what were the soviet youth groups

Answer 44

octoberists (5-9) pioneers (10-14) Komsomol (15-28) you had to join a youth group if you wanted to be in favour with the party, also allowed children to escape crowded social living

Question 45

state welfare spending 1950 vs 1980

Answer 45

increased fivefold | pensions, maternity benefits, and housing all received more attention which helped relieve some poverty

Question 46

annual amount of housing space provided by the state 1951 vs 1961

Answer 46

1951: 178 million square meters 1961: 394 million square meters

Question 47

living conditions in the countryside under developed socialism

Answer 47

increased investment in agriculture started by krishchev was continued by Brezhnev used to fund schools, housing, and healthcare in rural areas 1966, farmers got wages by the mid 1970's, wages of rural workers were only 10% less than those of agricultural workers

Question 48

proof that the soviet government feared social instability

Answer 48

nervous rections to developments in its satellite states 1956: soviet tanks invade Hungary to crush uprising 1968: soviet military used to quell unrest in Czechoslovakia 1980: Poland forced to implement martial law when there are protests over food prices

Question 49

Zhenotdel

Answer 49

founded in 1917, this women's department was lead by Alexandra Kollontai closed in 1930 as the Party claimed women's issues had been solved (shows male dominated view of the party)

Question 50

when was the 1st soviet constitution (+ effects on women)

Answer 50

1918 | Gave men and women equality under the law

Question 51

when was the family code

Answer 51

1918 | gives women greater right within marriage

Question 52

civil war effects on women

Answer 52

1918-21. Millions of women conscripted into the workplace over 70,000 women fought in the red army (few had high rank) not enough resources for sufficient childcare / creches disruption caused by war + famine 1921-22 left many women homeless and lead to a ruse in prostitution

Question 53

what are 'postcard' divorces and when were they made legal

Answer 53

they're quick & cheap divorces designed to help women escape abusive husbands made legal in 1926 Instead often used by men to leave wives who had fallen pregnant, 70% of all divorces were initiated by men

Question 54

campaign for the unveiling of women

Answer 54

1927 lead by radical young Communist women, encouraged muslim women to unveil themselves and be empowered. lead to 'honour' killings -> by the 1930s the government took a softer approach

Question 55

Stalin's great retreat

Answer 55

1936 | traditional values restored e.g. abortion made illegal again (except where the mother's life was in danger)

Question 56

WW2 effects on women

Answer 56

1941-45 | women conscripted into factories

Question 57

when was the tax on single people established

Answer 57

1944 | this was one of several measures put in place to further traditionalise family values

Question 58

abortion legalised (after great retreat)

Answer 58

1955

Question 59

first women to be a full member of the presidium (politburo)

Answer 59

Ekaterina Furtseva | 1957

Question 60

family code places restrictions on divorce

Answer 60

1968

Question 61

old russian proverb that shows sexist mentality of the time

Answer 61

"The more you beat your wife the better the soup will taste"

Question 62

why were the bolsheviks insistent on gender equality

Answer 62

marxism says all should be equal no matter if they are male or female

Question 63

early decrees (bolsheviks) that helped women

Answer 63

abortion legalised divorce made simple laws that forced a woman to obey her husband were abolished women no longer needed their husband's permission to take a job or enter higher education

Question 64

effects of forced collectivisation on women

Answer 64

many men left the countryside to find work in the cities (some sent money to wives, others abandoned) agricultural work left to women: low status, low pay made worse by WW2 since most able bodied men were conscripted -> imbalance of the sexes

Question 65

effects of the Khrushchev and Brezhnev years on women in the countryside

Answer 65

improved health and maternity care was extended to the countryside status of agriculture raised internal passport system extended to countryside in 1974 allowed women to move into the towns in search of better paid work (however this opportunity was normally taken by young men)

Question 66

impact of industrialisation on women in towns

Answer 66

pressure for labour in industry (five year plans) gave women little choice but to work work was no longer a symbol of female liberation but of socialist duty economic struggles of the 30s forced many women into work women dominated light industry (especially textiles)

Question 67

number of female industrial workers 1928 vs 1940

Answer 67

1928: 3 million 1940: 13 million

Question 68

expansion of education for women

Answer 68

1929: government reserves 20% of higher education places for women (rose from 14% to 20%) 1940: 40% of those studying engineering were women

Question 69

the socially active woman

Answer 69

this was a magazine that targeted the female social elite (1930s onwards). Those married to industrial managers or party officials did not have to work and were instead encouraged to do 'social work' (eg hanging up curtains in workers dorms or holding cooking classes). The magazine was a subtle way of enforcing social divisions among women

Question 70

how many soviet women served in the armed forces WW2

Answer 70

80,000 | most in medical but some as pilots, machine gunners, and tank crews

Question 71

when did women get the vote

Answer 71

1917

Question 72

women in the party statistics

Answer 72

1932: women only made up 16% of party membership 1939: female delegates only just exceed 10%

Question 73

first woman in space

Answer 73

Valentina Tereshkova, 1963 | she was massively publicised (space race with America) and became a soviet hero

Question 74

statistic to show women didn't really have equality in the work place

Answer 74

70% of all dismissals were women

Question 75

new marriage law

Answer 75

1927 | weakened traditional marriage by giving equal status under the law of registered and unregistered marriages

Question 76

divorce rates after postcard divorces came in

Answer 76

1926: 50% of marriages end in divorce

Question 77

1926 abortion rates

Answer 77

for every 4 pregnancies, 3 were aborted due to the poor quality of soviet condoms ('condoms have more rubber in than the tyres '), now-legal abortion became used as contraception

Question 78

main changes of the great retreat of 1936

Answer 78

divorce made more expensive (4 roubles to 50 roubles) free marriages lost their legal status male homosexuality made illegal abortion outlawed (except where the mothers life was at risk) pregnant women allowed more maternity leave (16 weeks), given job security, and given lighter work when pregnant (to encourage working women to have kids) gold wedding rings start to reappear more money put towards creches 2-year prison sentence for men who did not pay towards the upkeep of their family (often low priority)

Question 79

childcare expansion 1928 onwards

Answer 79

number of nursery places doubled 1928 to 1930, and continued to grow under the second five year plan

Question 80

further strengthening of traditional family values after the great retreat

Answer 80

1944 government introduced awards "mother heroines" who had 10 or more children tax on single people to encourage marriage divorce made more complicated and couples could be forced to visit a District Court to attempt reconciliation

Question 81

how did Krushchev's focus on traditional family values effect working women?

Answer 81

1936: 49% workforce women | Khrushchev stresses that women should be the main source of childcare (double burden)

Question 82

statistics to show which fields were female dominated by 1985

Answer 82

70% of medical doctors were women 75% of university employees were women 65% of art and culture employees were women *pay in female dominated fields was lower*

Question 83

what were women targeted to do in the virgin lands scheme

Answer 83

milkmaids, gardeners, and start families | men left to use heavy machinery

Question 84

statistic to show that women were only targeted for low paying jobs in late 50s/early 60s

Answer 84

August 1958 6400 women recruited only 450 had well paid professional jobs

Question 85

statistics to show low status of women in agriculture in 70s/80s

Answer 85

1970: 72% of the Soviet union's lowest-paid farmers were women 1980: only 2% of farm managers were women