changing status of women

Question 1

civil war

Answer 1

lenin set up the Zhenotdel - women’s department of the CP
recruited women to work in creches and orphanages where they could fulfil their ‘natural role’

Question 2

NEP

Answer 2

creches were closed and women who worked in industry were sacked
women were forced to work as prostitutes
estimated 39% of men used prostitutes

Question 3

stalin’s industry

Answer 3

women joined the industrial labour force in large numbers due to the 5 year plan
over 10 million joined
women were paid around 60% of mens wages
subject to verbal and physical abuse
tended to not get promotions

Question 4

women worker’s 1953-85

Answer 4

1960’s - 45% of industrial jobs went to women
they were restricted to:
light industry
heavy manual labour
1970’s -
women made up 70% of doctors
75% of university employers
65% of people employed in art and culture

Question 5

countryside

Answer 5

‘triple shift’ - agricultural labour on farms, household chores and handicrafts
Khrushchev wanted women to work in the virgin lands scheme as milk maids and gardeners and to start families
continued to work the lowest paid jobs in farming