women and families

• • experienced som liberation in their lives after 1917
  • more freedom choice in marriage, divorce and childbirth
  • interests represented by zhenotdel 1917 - 1930
• cultural revolution reversed the liberation especially after the 'great retreat' (1934 onwards) when women's traditional role in the family and society was promoted due to the social 'breakdown' caused by rapid industrialisation
• the traditional role was reinforced by the family law 1944 which further encouraged motherhood to restore the population after wwII
• • in the long term women did benefit form increased opportunities in the industrial workforce and the education programme
  • due to the demand for labour in the five year plans and during WWII
  • an equal status to men was never achieved