Full Description
Takes a comparative perspective on family life and childhood in the past half century in Russia and Eastern Europe, highlighting similarities and differences. Focuses on the problematic domains of the institutions and laws devised to cope with family difficulties, and discusses the social strains created by the transition from communist to post-communist national systems. In addition to the substantial historic analysis, actual challenges are also discussed. The essays examine the changing gender roles, alterations in legal systems, the burdens faced by married and unmarried women who are mothers, the contrasts between government rhteoric and the implementation of policies toward marriage, children and parenthood. By addressing the specifics of welfare politics under the Communist rule and the directions of their transformation in 1990-2000s, this book contributes to the understanding of social institutions and family policies in these countries and the problems of dealing with the socialist past that this region face.
Contents
List of Abbreviations Preface Introduction Helene Carlbäck, Yulia Gradskova and Zhanna Kravchenko PART I 1940s-1980s The Family as a "Basic Unit of Socialist Society" Chapter 1. Lone Motherhood in Soviet Russia in the Mid-20th Century—In a European Context Helene Carlbäck Chapter 2. Family, Divorce, and Comrades' Courts: Soviet Family and Public Organizations During the Thaw Elena Zhidkova Chapter 3. A Life of Labor, a Life of Love: Telling the Life of a Young Peasant Mother Facing Collectivization Ildikó Morell Asztalos Chapter 4. East German Women Going West: Family, Children and Partners in Life-Experience Literature Christine Farhan Chapter 5. Why Does Public Policy Implementation Fail? Lithuanian Office of State Benefits for Mothers of Large Families and Single Mothers, 1944-1956 Dalia Leinarte Chapter 6. The Latvian Family Experience with Sovietization 1945-1990 Majia Runcis PART II 1990s-2000s Social Transformation in the Mirror of Family Life Chapter 7. "Two children Puts You in the Zone of Social Misery": Childbearing and Risk Perception among Russian Women Anna Rotkirch and Katja Kesseli Chapter 8. "Supporting Genuine Development of the Child." Public Childcare Centers Versus Family in Post-Soviet Russia Yulia Gradskova Chapter 9. Everyday Continuity and Change: Family and Family Policy in Russia Zhanna Kravchenko Chapter 10. Single Mothers—Clients or Citizens? Social Work with Poor Families in Russia Elena Iarskaia-Smirnova and Pavel Romanov Chapter 11. Welfare Crisis and Crisis-Centers in Russia Today Aino Saarinen Chapter 12. Marriage and Divorce Law in Russia and the Baltic States: Overview of Recent Changes Olga A. Khazova Chapter 13. Doing Parenting in Post-Socialist Estonia and Latvia Ingegerd Municio-Larsson Chapter 14. Gendered Experiences in Entrepreneurship, Family and Social Activities in Russia Ann-Mari Sätre Notes on Contributors Index
