When the communists rose up against the bourgeois aristocracy, the new government preached against the evils of western social conventions which plagued other capitalist nations. They ridiculed the polluted image of the meek western female and raised up a powerful icon of the freed Bolshevik woman. To the rank and file Soviet political theorist, the October Revolution removed the diminutive status of the working class, ethnic minorities, and women. Furthermore, the establishment of the Soviet Union abolished societal issues of inequality for women, who felt oppressed by traditional western conventions. Nineteenth century socialist theorist, Charles Fourier, noted how the status of women remained the most logical measure for the freedom of
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Some historians consider the 1919 foundation of the Soviet Women’s Department, the Zhenotdel, as evidence of the party’s willingness to improve and empower the status of women. Today, modern historiographical records call into question the cooperation of early Bolshevik leaders to grant concessions to Soviet women. Historians Barbara Evans Clements and Carol Hayden argue Bolshevik leadership initially worked to further the women’s cause—with varying degrees of conviction—but the issue became secondary when other political and economic matter arose. However, a critical look at the history of the Soviet Women’s Movement demonstrates party leaders never intended to change the social status of women. While the Kremlin attempted to disseminate the myth of the liberated Bolshevik woman, an examination of Alexandra Kollontai’s political career reveals how the party never truly prioritized the liberation of women and actively ignored calls for legitimate social …show more content…
In order to deconstruct the edifice of the old sexual morality, she argued for new morality where personal preferences and the needs of the individual regulated sexual relationships. It freed women to enter and leave relationships with men on their own accord. In turn, it removed the feelings of isolation fostered by the traditional code. The Soviet population needed to acknowledge sex as a fundamental part of life if they ever intended to
Some historians consider the 1919 foundation of the Soviet Women’s Department, the Zhenotdel, as evidence of the party’s willingness to improve and empower the status of women. Today, modern historiographical records call into question the cooperation of early Bolshevik leaders to grant concessions to Soviet women. Historians Barbara Evans Clements and Carol Hayden argue Bolshevik leadership initially worked to further the women’s cause—with varying degrees of conviction—but the issue became secondary when other political and economic matter arose. However, a critical look at the history of the Soviet Women’s Movement demonstrates party leaders never intended to change the social status of women. While the Kremlin attempted to disseminate the myth of the liberated Bolshevik woman, an examination of Alexandra Kollontai’s political career reveals how the party never truly prioritized the liberation of women and actively ignored calls for legitimate social …show more content…
In order to deconstruct the edifice of the old sexual morality, she argued for new morality where personal preferences and the needs of the individual regulated sexual relationships. It freed women to enter and leave relationships with men on their own accord. In turn, it removed the feelings of isolation fostered by the traditional code. The Soviet population needed to acknowledge sex as a fundamental part of life if they ever intended to