Stalin's Rule Changes example essay topic

Unequally treated, under all Russian governments, women were promised rights at home, work and in the political arena yet each time were bitterly disappointed. Three very diverse governments and their consequent ideologies ruled Russia during the late 19th century until mid 20th century, the Tsarist government ruled pre-Revolutionary Russia followed by the Bolshevik leaders during the revolution then to Lenin's successor, Stalin after the revolution. Over the period that these three governments ruled, Russian women were forced to adapt and change to the laws. New laws were being introduced to benefit women in the workforce, at home and give them more rights on voting and political understanding. Unfortunately many of these laws were unsuccessful and made life harder for women.

Women wanted these seemingly simply rights throughout Russian history but under Tsarist, the strictest government yet to rule, their hopes for emancipation were shattered, they were back to " square one... treated unequally and restricted from life" (Ratha, 1965: pg. 26). Women's rights were forgotten about and they were being controlled by the fathers or husbands, under Tsar ian laws, a woman was "unable to move without the permission of her father or husband" (Hadden, web, accessed 15 March 2002). It was a male driven society and women were barred from all but the most limited rights. The Tsarist leader Nicholas II was opposed to change, and women's flame of hope for emancipation for women was dimmed, their dreams were forgotten about and the horrendous conditions for work and home continued. As a child, adolescent and unmarried woman were seen as a possession and owned by her father.

Because women were seen as objects they were easily married off, usually to a potential business party. Once married, women were, "literally [slaves] for their husbands". (Shen, 1937: pg. 10). A woman had no right to unrestricted movement and every time her husband changed his abode she was obliged to follow him. Once a woman had children she was expected to look after them, putting no stress or responsibility on the male, and if after having children, the family were economically unstable, she was forced to work as a laborer on a farm or in a factory.

At work she was discriminated against by male workers and treated unequally, her wage was 1/4 of the price of a working class mans wage. Not only was she expected to cook, clean and care for her husband and children. She was also to work 12 hours shifts at the factory. This double shift was too much for many women, who became sick due to the exhaustion of everything.

(Downey, 1996: pg. 6) Women became unhappy with their lives and this led to the Bolsheviks taking power and authority in 1917. Women were right behind the revolution as they, "were hungry for change". (Sherow, 1998: pg. 21). The Bolshevik party promised changes and improved quality of life for all their followers but when they gained power, women were bitterly disappointed. The initial idea was for women's rights to be extended, and some additional laws were introduced to benefit women at home, at work and their political power and understanding. The laws that were introduced and had a detrimental effect on women were the legalisation of abortion; divorce by mutual consent and homosexuality decimalization.

These new laws meant that abortion became a form of contraceptive, and many homosexuals grew up learning that they were "bad, and wrong, and would be punished if they didn't fix their problem" (McLean, 1996: pg. 40). Easily obtained divorces also led to the abandonment of many women and children, "free divorce often meant that the man walked out leaving the woman with the children and the state didn't step in" (Peterson, web, accessed 28 February 2002). After the introduction of law 122, which advocated that "Women in the USSR are accorded equal rights with men, in all sphere of economic, state, cultural, social and political life". (Henri, web, accessed 2 March 2002) meant that things were intended to be better for the political rights of women, unfortunately the laws were never really enforced and no one abide by them. As one of the Bolshevik leaders' wives commented, "it is one thing to write good laws and another to create the actual social conditions to bring them to life".

(Peterson, web, accessed 28 February 2002) As before the society moved back into their lapse of sexist and conservative attitudes of women. Under Bolshevik laws women were given more rights and freedoms but the laws that were meant to help, gave her false hope and eventually had a detrimental effect on her life at home, at work and her political power. After Joseph Stalin took over Lenin's position as party leader women were again promised a more enjoyable life, the flame of hope was re-lit. Joseph Stalin, understood that women were underestimated under Tsarist and possibly even Bolshevik rule. Stalin appreciated that the laws originally introduced for women weren't beneficial and he then organised for new laws to be brought in and enforced so that in reality, these laws would actually be beneficial. Stalin gave women the freedom to live alone and work when they wanted, although this was empowering women, working at least 20 hours a day was too much for many women, they got sick and economically suffered.

(Clements, 1994: pg. 94) " [Stalin] has brought rights on paper, but in fact [he] has made life much harder for women" (Downey, 1996: pg. 21). Some of these women caught viruses such as glandular fever but continued to work in order to keep their household running. Yet if a woman didn't get sick from over working, then her family was breaking up, "the employment of women at once breaks up the family; ... the wife spends twelve or thirteen house... in the mill, and the husband... the same... what [becomes] of the children?" (Frankist, 1951: pg. 32). Mothers and young children are usually unable to separate due to love and fear of health but when a mother needs money to clothe and feed her children. In order to make the most money possible, a woman would fill bottles with her breast milk before she started her shift, so she didn't have to stop to feed her child during it. So while many women were suffering from post-natal depression and terrible living and working conditions, Stalin continued to give speeches including members of all social ranking and reminding citizens of equality "The peasant woman stands shoulder to shoulder with the peasant man.

She advances together with him". (Lapidus, 1978: pg. 76). So whilst women were suffering they were continually being given more hope and promises from their leader. Unfortunately Stalin never honoured his promises and women were forced to give up their hopes for a better life. Whether under Tsarist, Bolshevik or Stalin's rule changes were made and new laws introduced to benefit the life of women, and improve the respect given to them within the society. Although many changes and new laws were made to improve the life of women socially, economically and politically, but most, if not all of these laws were unsuccessful in doing so.

Many of the laws were intended to aid women in their day to day life, but most of these were either not enforced or misunderstood. "Setting a law is one thing but for that law to become a reality is another" (Ratha, 1965: pg. 25). Consequently women were again seen as less superior and worthless, and only as mothers, wives or workers. Society are continually " [underestimating] the capacity of the female mind, they weaken the moral side - the energy, will, self development".

(Mamonova, 1989: pg. 28) Disappointment filled all aspects of Russian women's lives when they were under the rule of Tsarist, Bolshevik and Stalin.

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