Discussions on Marriage in Women’s Magazines of the Perestroika Period

This study examines the transformation of women's gender roles in marriage during Perestroika as reflected in Soviet women's magazines: Rabotnitsa, Sovetskaya Zhenshchina, and Krestyanka. The research analyzes articles by staff writers, invited experts, and reader letters, offering a multifaceted perspective on the evolving discourse. During Perestroika, Glasnost policies fostered open discussion, challenging the previously monolithic state narrative on women. This openness revealed two contrasting viewpoints on gender policy. One side argued that Soviet women remained insufficiently emancipated, demanding government intervention to address persistent inequalities. Conversely, opponents contended that excessive emancipation had fueled a demographic crisis, echoing concerns raised since the 1970s. This study investigates how these competing perspectives played out in discussions about women's "double burden" – juggling paid employment with unpaid domestic labor. The analysis explores how the magazines framed the challenges of reconciling professional aspirations with societal expectations of women as primary caregivers and homemakers. Furthermore, the research examines how the concept of the "second shift" impacted perceptions of women's roles within marriage, potentially challenging traditional notions of domesticity and marital expectations. Finally, the study delves into the evolving discourse on sexuality and romantic love within marriage. By analyzing how these topics were addressed, the research aims to understand how shifting attitudes towards intimacy and emotional connection may have influenced the perception of women's roles and agency within marital relationships. Ultimately, this study sheds light on the complex and often contradictory ways in which Perestroika-era reforms reshaped understandings of gender, marriage, and women's place in Soviet society.