Was There a Place For Women in Russian Revolutionary Movements - Essay Example

Was there a place for women in Russian revolutionary movements? Compare the roles of women in the 1905 and 1917 revolutions. Introduction Before the 1900s and at the turn of the century, Russia basically existed under traditionalist and conservative ideologies. This included their ideologies and views of women and their roles in their society. These traditionalist concepts included prohibitions on certain activities for women, including the right to vote and the right to education. Women’s role in their society was also defined based on traditional view as well as men’s protection and grants. This quickly changed with the 1905 and the 1917 revolutions in Russia where major shifts in women’s roles were seen. This paper shall discuss the place that women occupied in the Russian revolutionary movements, comparing the roles for women in the 1905 and the 1917 revolutions. It shall consider the transitions in women’s roles during these revolutions and the gains which were achieved under these time periods. Body There was a place for women in the Russian revolutionary movements. This place was one they fought hard for as they muscled and worked their way through various barriers to their gender. The 1905 revolution created a time where women were now participating in events, like those spearheaded by Father Gapon1. They also fought strongly for their right to vote to the Duma. Their experiences in relation to gender oppression motivated them to fight against the traditional roles which society have saddled them with; it motivated them to vie for rights equal to men and for their rights to vote, to own property, as well as to fight oppressive acts of discrimination against them2. Soon after the 1905 revolution was unfolding, women were attempting to mark their place in Russian society. They also started to unite with each other, consolidating with each other in order to support their rights and concerns3. They also established labour movements, demanding protection in their rights as workers. Just as women were starting to gain some progress in securing their rights, the war with Japan further brought hardship to the rural areas and further made things harder for the poor women living in these areas4. These women, however, also became leaders when the revolution of 1905 broke out. From 1905 to 1917, women played significant roles in the Russian revolution as they joined the Bolshevik party and became passionate about the cause being advanced by the party5. Their passion mostly stemmed from their desire to gain more rights beyond their traditional Russian female role, but they also showed that they had the ability to work as hard as their male counterparts in order to secure the rights and freedom of all Russians6. Women during the Bolshevik revolution applied the demeanour of the tverdia which translates to being hard and resolved7. These women also had to be rational, merciless, and unsentimental; their loyalty had to unquestionably be directed to the party and not even to themselves or their family (19). In order to comply with this demand, many of these women had to hold off on getting married or having children; others who were already mothers had to be ready to take the risk of bringing their children to the underground hideouts, sometimes even letting their children aid in the revolution8. Women became a major symbol of what the Bolshevik revolution was trying to achieve. They became a symbol of causes like equal rights and opportunity which the revolution was fighting for9. These causes were also hailed by the male Bolsheviks as they believed that these were courageous and decisive goals. Support from the men encouraged more women to join the revolution. However, this support was all for show because beyond the eyes and ears of the women, their efforts were mocked10. Moreover, negative rumours were spread about them, with many of them labelled as promiscuous, ignorant, and deviant. Despite the negative rumblings about these revolutionary women, the lower classes of women were still stirred to action, mostly into seeking better rights for themselves; and their protests were able to gain much attention from revolutionaries11. Their actions were illegal, for the most part, however the fearless oppressed women were relentless in their pursuit of equal rights. There was a place for them in the Bolshevik revolution, however it was a place they had to work hard to secure12. The revolutionary women, as well as the working women had to find ways to help each other’s cause. They also publicized their cause in order to gain more support. They were highly involved in these publication activities, and this gained them notice from the male leaders. Some of the women were also skilled in memorization and in messages, as well as cracking codes and organizing secret meetings13. With their activities, more oppressed women sought improvements in their lives. Their numbers were however still minimal and many women still opted to suffer their daily life believing that their proper place in life was to cook, raise children and be confined to hard work14. These beliefs were however changed as the men became occupied with the Russo-Japanese war and their women struggled to support themselves, leaving their homes for jobs and seeking work in the cities15. When they returned to their villages, they led uprisings against the government and openly demanded for equal rights protection. The Bolshevik party supported their demands, but in essence, the Bolshevik males did not, in actuality, give much credence to their cause16. In many ways, they believed that women were more concerned about women’s rights, not equal rights, and about applying the gentle approach to governance. This proved to the men that women had no place in government17. In the interim years before 1917, Russia did not do well in the First World War and its economy suffered. The situation of women became even worse as they were made to riot and loot for food18. Many women were killed by the police at this time for protesting the government and for looting. Middle class women supporting the war were indignant against the government. This brought on the ire of the Bolshevichki who wanted hostilities to end19. In general, women in Russia were not united and were disorganized about their plans and goals. This decreased the legitimacy of their claims, as well as their causes and goals. In 1917, the February Revolution broke out. More or less the same goals and causes with the 1905 Revolution was brought to the table by women and women workers20. The economic conditions were also similar in 1905 and in 1917, and these conditions drove the women to seek better rights and support for their subsistence. This time though, most women, including the Bolshevichki and the middle class women, were on the same page in terms of their goals and aims for reform21. Men also shared their cause and took to the streets protesting in front of the government offices and against the Tsar. The Bolshevichki’s approach was lauded as effective, a major triumph against male Bolshevik leadersip22. The Rabotnitsa, which was a revolutionary paper run by women, was also revived; and it now included a school which was meant to train women in public speaking and in inspiring other women23. Russian politicians could feel a revolution brewing by September of 1917, especially with peasant uprisings clearly apparent. The Bolshvichki noted how revolutionary changes were taking place and they realized that they needed to secure the rights of women before the Bolsheviks would control the government24. Major women revolutionary leaders then met, and surprisingly were joined by about 500 women also wanting to participate. Together they discussed their goals and needs. They were united in their cause and their desires which included paid maternity leave, child care, fair working hours, and safe working conditions25. It was soon discovered that women had no desire to seek political seats; they only wanted to protect their traditional roles, to secure similar rights granted for men, and to improve their working conditions26. After the Bolsheviks won, women were still firm on their goals for women’s rights. True enough, these women hardly sought any political seats as the Bolshevik Party was forming what would now be known as the Soviet Union27. As the revolution was coming to an end and Bolshevik leaders were formulating reforms for the government, women presented their demands and later, most of these would be passed into law. Among the Bolshevichki, women also did not seek political seats, instead, some of them sought roles in education and in protecting the interests of women. In order to aid the protection of women’s rights, the Bolshevik government supported the establishment of the Women’s Bureau28. The rights protected by the bureau were the same rights which women had been clamouring for in Russia for hundreds of years. In general, the bureau assisted women in various ways, providing counselling for job placements and lobbying the government for the protection of women’s rights, improved working conditions, and higher pay rates. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, there was a place for women in Russian revolutionary movements. The revolutions which were launched at various points of Russia’s history clamoured for equal rights and better work conditions for all. Women initially had a less active role in these revolutions, however, during the 1905 Bolshevik Revolution, they started to take on a more active role. The Bolshevik Party, however, did not take the role of women seriously during the 1905 revolution. Although they supported it to some degree, they did not fully acknowledge the role of women in the revolution. The fact that the women’s movements were not organized at this point also played the role in the lack of widespread support for their cause. In the years leading up to the 1917 February Revolution however, the women were more organized and passionate in their goals. They were also more united and were able to gain the support of many men in launching the revolution against the government. As the 1917 Revolution gained the necessary victory for the Bolshevik Party, the women’s place and role in the revolution garnered more support from the Party. Their impact on the government reforms proved to be valuable and these reforms were eventually implemented under the Party and the Soviet Union. They were able to protect their traditional roles, even as they shunned political seats and power. The reforms and rights they sought to secure are protected to date and have served as a momentous precedent for other women in the global setting. References R. Bisha, ‘Russian Women, 1698-1917: Experience & Expression’ (Sydney: Sage Publications, 2002), p. 6 B. Clements, ‘Daughters of Revolution: A History of Women in the U.S.S.R. Arlington Heights’, (Illinois: Harlan Davidson, 1994), p. 34 B. Engel and C. Rosenthal, ‘Five Sisters: Women against the Tsar’, (New York: Routledge, 1992), p. 56. S. Fitzpatrick, ‘The Bolsheviks Dilemma: Class, Culture, and Politics in the Early Soviet Years,’ (1988) 47 Slavic Review 4, 599-613. A. Gorsuch, ‘A Woman is Not a Man: The Culture of Gender and Generation in Soviet Russia, 1921-1928," (1996) 55 Slavic Review 3, 636-660. H. Goscilo & B. Holmgren, ‘Russia, Women, Culture,’ (Sydney: Routledge, 1996), p. 123. R. McNeal, ‘Bride of the Revolution: Krupskaya and Lenin’, (Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1972), p. 112. C. Porter, ‘Women in Revolutionary Russia’, (Sydney: Routledge, 1987), p. 67. E. Rossi. ‘The Emancipation of Women in Russia before and after the Russian Revolution,’ (2004), In Defense of Marxism,’ < http://www.marxist.com/emancipation-women-russia.htm> (accessed 27 March 2012). C. Rychkova, ‘Dutiful Daughters: Women in revolutionary Russia,’ (2009), Faces of Russia, < http://www.oocities.org/mushkah/WomenRevolution.html> (accessed 27 March 2012). B. Smith, ‘Changing Lives: Women in European History Since 1700,’ (Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath and Company, 1989), p. 55. R. Stites, ‘The Womens Liberation Movement in Russia: Feminism, Nihilism, and Bolshevism 1860-1930’, New Jersey: Princeton, 1978), p. 98. Read More