Perestroika and Soviet women

What did economic, political and social reforms in the Soviet Union mean for women? Why was a coherent women's movement difficult to build? What did nationalism offer women in Ukraine? In this timely volume, leading Western specialists and their Soviet colleagues explore these issues which are of central concern to a society in transition. The authors discuss the implications of reform for female labour in industry and in agriculture, the falling percentage of female deputies, new women's groups, the changing status of women's councils and the position of women in Ukraine. They also explore the controversial significance of glasnost for women. Glasnost has facilitated women's studies and helped to expose a range of social problems. Yet, as this volume demonstrates, it has also obscured the role of girls in youth culture, created images of irresponsible mothers, led to the spread of pornography and anti-abortion sentiments and given questionable space to women writers. This book presents a thorough analysis of the impact perestroika, democratisation and glasnost had upon Soviet women as workers, consumers and political actors. It will be widely read by students and specialists of So