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Apl. 3, 1999
Women's Right in Russia

The relationship between men and women in Russia
The relationship between men and women in Russia differs very much from that of Japan or other countries. Old fashoned relationship between men and women are very typicdal for Russia. They call it "sexism" in the West, but we, Russians, think that men and women are very different and it's no use to expect they will behave in the same way. For example, in modern Europe, a person is brought up from childhood with the idea that men and women are the same. Both are citizens of their countries, so one should be a responsible, intelligent, professionally trained tax-payer, and it's not important at all if one is mail or female. Sometimes it's even incedent for a man to view a woman as a woman, because even this itself apparently hurts her pride. Everywhere (office, supermarket, etc.) people should act as friendly polite sexless citizens.

Woman's behavior in Russia
Flirting is a certain part of woman's behavior in Russia. Women like to dress up. They like feminine clothes and make up. A woman who ignores her merits, devoting her life only to her job is ridiculed. People call her "blue-stocking".

Feminism in Russia
Does feminism exist in Russia? Let's look through the history. What are the reasons of the feminist movement? Educated gifted women protested against the view of women as a "birth-machine", discrimination at work and the dictates of fashion. Men and women are payed equally in Russia. There are no sex limits for any job: the first woman-cosmonaut was Russian, there are female politicians and ministers, furthermore most of school principals and manu university deans are women. Doctors and teachers are considered "female jobs", 55% of university students are girls. But most of house work is also on woman's shoulders. Women are tired of the situation like this. They want more time to spend with kids, they want to be more like "women".

Family life in Russia
"Happy Family" in Russia. Why divorce rate is so high? Reasons for divorce: early marriage, economical crisis, low family value, social independence of women, easy divorce procedures.

Table 1. Marriages and Divorces(per 1000 people)

marriagesdivorces
1960
1970
1980
1990
1994
1995
1996
1997
13.8
11.3
10.6
9.1
7.4
7.3
5.9
6.3
2.4
4.2
5.0
4.4
4.6
4.5
3.8
3.8

Table 2. Family situation among working population(October, 1994, %)

allmarriedsinglewidoweddivorced
all employee
men
women
100
100
100
74
77.9
69.9
13.6
15.6
11.6
4.0
1.3
6.8
8.4
5.2
11.7

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