Women in Russia & Equal Rights

Lesson Plan Snapshot:

Lenin’s View:

• Lenin wanted complete emancipation for Russian women.
• He wanted the common practice of a family swept away and replaced with a more communal way of living together and raising children.
• He created youth groups and encouraged them to attack ‘the capitalist tyranny of parents’ and party sections were set up to educate women on how to become assertive and independent.
• He wanted wives to be disobedient to their husbands and think for themselves.

Alexandra Kollontai – 1872 – 1952

• Leading Bolshevik figure.
• First female member of the Bolshevik Govt.
• A feminist who believed in free love – this upset some of her more conservative fellow Bolsheviks.
• She was a member of the Central Committee and exercised an influence over women’s policies, health and family.
• Her influenced waned after 1921 and some of her policies were reversed.

Equal Opportunity Russia

• The Bolshevik revolution was not just concerned with the development of a socialist economy.
• It also promised to deliver long-awaited improvements to the lives of ordinary Russians, particularly women, peasants and industrial workers.
• These Soviet social reforms were idealistic, ambitious and extensive.
• Initiated by Bolshevik leaders like Alexandra Kollontai, they aimed to liberate women by removing traditional restrictions on marriage, divorce, abortion and contraception.

Powerpoint Lesson Plan:

• Aimed at Students studying across UK Year 7,8 & 9 or equivalent
• Premium resource
• Use as you wish in the classroom or home environment
• Structured powerpoint presentation and challenging tasks.
• Complete lesson plan focused around Women In Russia and the fight for social equality.