Russian Women; Socially, Economically and Politically

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 … t...