A Revolution Of Their Own: Voices Of Women In Soviet History

by Barbara Alpern Engel, Anastasia Posadskaya-Vanderbeck

The stories of these eight Russian women offer an extremely rare perspective into personal life in the Soviet era. Some were from the poor peasantry and working class, groups in whose name the revolution was carried out and who sometimes gained unprecedented opportunities after the revolution. Others, born to “misfortune” as the daughters of nobles, parish priests, or those peasants termed well-to-do, suffered bitterly as enemies to a new government. The women interviewed here speak candidly about family life, work, sexual relations, marriage and divorce, childbirth and childbearing, and legalized abortion and the underground pursuit of such services after abortion was outlawed in 1936.As no previous book has done, A Revolution of Their Own illuminates the harsh reality of women’s daily lives in the Soviet Union as well as reveals the accomplishments made possible by the expanded opportunities that the new Soviet government provided for women. Their stories show why many Russian women continue to take pride in the public achievements of the Soviet period despite, or perhaps because of, the painful price each was made to pay.

Genres: History, Russia, Nonfiction, Biography, Russian History

248 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 1997

Reviews

[Kateryna Martynenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

В цій книзі зібрані інтерв'ю жінок, які народилися до 1917 року та розповіді про їх життя, спогади про дореволюційний час, проблеми та можливості жінок після революції. В книзі подається цікава вибірка із дуже різних жіночих доль, деякі з героїнь походять із сімей "кулаків", деякі із колишньої знаті, деякі із робітничих сімей. Їхні життя складаються по-різному, комусь революція допомагає зайняти високе місце в житті, іншим навпаки через революцію доводиться стикатися з гоніннями та репресіями. Ця книга цікава насамперед жіночим поглядом на події 1900-х - 1950-х років, у ній багато особистих деталей із життя жінок - про народження дітей, одруження, контрацепцію, сексуальні домагання, пошуки роботи та проблеми на робочому місці пов'язані із дискримінацією жінок та інше.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an interesting anthology of interviews with "Russian" women who, except for one, were born before the 1917 Revolution. From different backgrounds they survived the various wars, purges, and changes in government. Many of the women saw their careers hindered by their background while others got an opportunity to advance (but not as far as men). However, though not as strict there was (is) a strong influence of a patriarchy on the lives of the women. A very interesting read.

[Rikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school.

[Katherine Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

super cool insight into life in the Soviet Union. a lot of hard work by women and fucked up shit by men. women carried a lot of people through tough times. a lot of humour, too

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compelling, important, varied stories of revolution.

[Dee W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say enough good things about this book. The book is formed by a series of interviews with women who were born before the revolution and lived through to the end of the Soviet regime. The scale is fantastic, women from every walk of life talk about how leaders, decreed, biases and background would have effect on them. Some of the things within or horrifying, while others are starkly amazing. It’s refreshing to see the system through women, especially women who unintentionally tell the interviewer so much more than what was know before.