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Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917–41

The position of women and ethnic minorities

  • 2 things to know
  • Paper 3

Overview

Stalin's family policy and why earlier freedoms were reversed, women's double burden of work and home, the jobs women took, help for working mothers, women's political position, early policy towards the nationalities, Russification under Stalin, the deportation of frontier peoples and the suppression of minority religions and customs.

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Key term

Why were the freedoms of early Soviet family law reversed in the 1930s?

Key term

What help was given to Soviet mothers in work in the 1930s?

Questions from this subtopic

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  1. 1

    How did family policy change under Stalin in the 1930s?

    Model answer

    Divorce was made costly and difficult, abortion was banned and large families were rewarded, because the state wanted more children and steadier homes.

  2. 2

    Why were the earlier freedoms in family law reversed?

    Model answer

    The birth rate had fallen and broken families and abandoned children were seen as weakening the country.

  3. 3

    What was expected of Soviet women besides raising children?

    Model answer

    They were expected to hold down a full-time job as well, so most carried the work, the housework, the queueing and the family together.

  4. 4

    What kinds of work did women take on in the 1930s?

    Model answer

    They poured into factories and building sites and made up a large share of the workforce, and many trained as doctors, teachers and engineers.

  5. 5

    What help was given to mothers in work?

    Model answer

    Factories provided nurseries and crèches, along with canteens and paid leave around childbirth, so that mothers could stay in their jobs.

  6. 6

    What was the political position of women?

    Model answer

    They were equal in law and sat in the soviets and the party, but very few reached senior office and none sat in the Politburo.

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