THEME 4 - Women and Family Flashcards
When was Zhenotdel established?
1917
What was Zhenotdel?
Set up by Lenin after the Russian Revolution. The Organisation worked to improve the conditions of women’s lives through literacy, education, marriage and work. Led by Alexandra Kollontai.
How were women impacted during the civil war?
Women were put to work in factories due to labour shortages.
How were women impacted during the NEP?
Unemployment rose due to to créches getting shut down. Many women working in factories were sacked to provide jobs for men. Many women resorted to prositution?ha
What percentage of men used prostitutes in 1920s?
39%
When was the family code introduced?
1918
What was the family code in 1918?
Pushed for better equality and less reliance on gender stereotypes in marraige.
- Divorce made easier
- Abortion legalised
- Women no longer needed husband’s permission to get a job
- men and women declared equal
- derogatory terms for women banned by LEnin
What problems did the family code of 1918 create?
- Women received less benefits and support for raising children.
- Although divorce was made easier as a way to get women out of abusive relationships, in reality 70% of divorce were made by men to abandon their pregnant partner.
- Equality was not actually achieved. In reality, it was a long and slow process.
What was a “Postcard divorce”?
A marriage could end purely by sending a letter. Marriage was viewed as simply a contract.
This marriage was allowed in 1926.
How were women perceived on propaganda in civil war?
Women were often pictured on civil war propaganda as helping with factory work to seem like a more equal society.
When were registered and unregistered marraiges given equal status?
1927
How were women perceived in the party?
Women were largely under-represented in the higher levels of the party. Women often got government roles that reflected stereotypes; so women got welfare, health or education whilst men got military and economy.
In 1918, only 5% of delegates in party congress were women.
How were women perceived in the countryside?
1920-40 had many women in agriculture providing labour for farms. They were often responsible for more household jobs and chores. Female tractor drivers made up only 0.5% of rural female population. Most women in agriculture were low paid and rape was common.
How were women perceived in the workplace?
Women often used in work campaigns and propaganda. Lenin thought they had played an important role against capitalism.
Under stalin, women did varied types of work but often were paid less due to less skillfull work.
When did Zhenotdel close down?
1930s
When was Stalin’s Great Retreat?
1936
What were the effects of Stalin’s great retreat?
Stalin returned to traditional ways as he changed his aims to focus on birth rates and cutting divorce.
- abortion was criminalised
- male homosexuality illegal
- divorce was expensive
- women expected to do labour on collectives as well as raising families
- fathers were fined 60% of salary for leaving 3 or more children.
What impact did WW2 have on women and family?
Women were conscribed into factories, however, they were refused to enlist. Female fighters fighters joined 3 female flying regiments.
Heroes such as Lydia Litvyak shot down 12 German planes.
What were Khrushchev’s reforms?
Khrushchev wanted to liberate women. Many of his policies in coming years against traditional assumptions.
- legalised abortion
- maternity increased to 112 days
- expanded the creche system
- aimed to make fridges widespread to avoid daily grocery shop visists.
How did Khrushchev’s virgin lands scheme impact women?
Khrushchev targeted women for the campagin to help start families in the virgin lands. They were given jobs such as gardeners and milkmaids that were low grade with low paid.
Very few stayed in the virgin lands due to high sexual abuse. Little machinery to help with skilled work. Prioritised men.
When did women get involved in the virgin lands scheme?
1954
When was abortion legalised again?
1955
When was paid maternity leave expanded to 112 days?
1956
When was the 6th 5YP and how did it impact women?
1956
Expanded creche system and helped improve conditions for women.
Aimed to eliminate the “double shift” by bringing convenienve and mass-produced clothing for women.
