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  • What Russian Women Think about Marriage, Family, and Kids

What Russian Women Think about Marriage, Family, and Kids

July 26, 2015
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Comments 18Elena
July 26, 2015

kids-marriage-family-russian-women-viewsUntil recently, Russian women were culturally similar to other Slavic ladies (Ukrainian, Belarusian etc.). However, in the past few years “traditional family values” are being promoted in Russia much heavier, which altered the attitudes of women towards an even stronger cult of family and love.

With the rest of the world embracing rainbow marriages and feminism, Russian policymakers’ official views are indisputably leaning towards long-established Christian Biblical values seeing the man as the head of a family, leading his wife and kids to prosperity and honourable life.

(Don’t ask me, how it all goes along with the infamous Russian men’s drinking and cheating in marriages. I guess it comes from the idea of a man being inherently fallible and continuously having to fight his own demons, and the woman being forgiving and patient, standing by her man no matter what. Divorcing a spouse because he cheated on you would be seen as ultimately bizarre in Russia, since it’s widely accepted that every man does it — it would be like divorcing a husband because he snores. So what?)

Russian girls are taught to seek fulfilment as a wife and a mother from an early age

Russian girls are trained in the roles of mother and wife from childhood.

The constant message from school books to commercials on TV and stories in media is that a woman can only find personal happiness as a mother and a wife. Whatever other pleasures in life are out there, they are depicted as inferior to the contentment of motherhood and marriage.

Young Russian women are so firmly indoctrinated in this cultural paradigm that no facts could shatter it. Their beliefs are so powerful that any factual data that contradicts this view would be dismissed with the outlook, “If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.”

Older Russian women are wiser, having first-hand experiences of failing marriages and hard realities of life as a single mother in a society that perceives an unmarried female as deficient. They realize that marriage and kids are not a panacea for happiness — you need the right partner for that.

Russian policies towards strengthening family values

The present Russian administration is encouraging families to have minimum 3 children, in the face of the country’s declining and aging population. However, many Russian families still have only 1 child (the average number is 1.6 births per woman, see Fertility rates in World Data Bank).

real-family-flag-russia

Flag of naturals with the message #TheRealFamily was launched in Moscow by the ruling party “United Russia” on 8 July 2015.

Still, the total ratios of 86 men to 100 women in Russia make it problematic for every woman to find a partner for marriage. This may be the reason why divorced women with children struggle to re-partner, while men have no problem entering another relationship, with so many unattached females seeking a commitment-oriented male.

The new flag of “straight people” (as opposed to gays and lesbians) incorporates a woman, a man, and 3 children. Alexey Lisovenko from the ruling party United Russia said about the launch of the “flag of naturals”, “It is our response to the same-sex marriages, this mockery of the concept of family. We have to avert the gay fever at our home country and support traditional values.” The new flag of a “Real family” bears uncanny resemblance to the banners of the anti-gay French group “La Manif Pour Tous”, pictures of which surfaced immediately after the largely promoted launch, although accusations in copying have been vehemently denied by Russian officials. The new flag was launched on 8 July 2015 in Moscow during the celebrations of the Day of Family, Love, and Faithfulness.

“Christian family values” and quotes from Bible are involved in predominantly every discussion of a new policy on the legislative level. In a way, since it’s hard for people to find fulfilment in their careers (jobs pay very little) or hobbies (which are expensive), the promotion of fulfilment in a family perfectly fits into the actual life experience of Russian women. Once she is married, she can stop fighting for everyday survival (it’s not a metaphor, unfortunately, but a harsh reality of Russian existence), and leave it to the husband, who is officially a provider by the cultural standards.

la-manif-pour-tous

Russian officials insist that similarities in “The real family” flag of naturals to the banners of “La Manif Pour Tous” are coincidental.

This is why a Russian woman believes that her duty in a marriage is only supporting her partner, and there is no need for her to contribute herself. Making a contribution could be disrespectful to her husband, not allowing him to feel like a real man.

While most Russian women work before marriage, it’s a matter of honour for a man to have a wife who stays at home. For the most households, it’s an unachievable dream, but if a man can afford it, he may request his wife to stop working, and the wife would happily obey. If a wife earns more than a husband, it may be viewed as inappropriate or wrong. She is supposed to sacrifice her career and talents for her husband’s success at work.

Russian women don’t see responsibilities in a marriage as a burden, but as a labour of love

I know the statement above sounds somewhat idealistic, and for myself, having lived in a western society for 16+ years, it does ring entirely cheesy. But for Russian women it’s the ultimate truth.

Marriage duties are seen by Russian women as a labour of love.

If you have read my previous review here, Men in Relationships Are Happier and Healthier, it also included a passage about statistics demonstrating that couples with kids felt more miserable than the ones without children.

I posted an overview of this research on the women’s blog in Russian as well, and boy, was it a groundbreaking discovery once again.

I have been smashed from every possible angle by Russian females (and males), who indisputably trust that children can only bring happiness for the mother and make a marriage stronger, and it’s absolutely despicable to think otherwise, including any possible and impossible statistics.

Here is what Russian women wrote:

  • “Western experiences and statistics do not apply to our countries. The attitude towards family and family values in Russia is completely different.”
  • “Yes, marriage and family mean a lot of responsibilities and work, but this is what happiness is! Love is a challenge and a very difficult one, but we love, and that’s the most important thing. It’s simply not all people are ready to be happy.”
  • “Nature programmed a woman to be a mother, and I totally disagree that kids could make a mother unhappy! Marriage is a different story: the woman feeds the man energetically, giving him her own power and life source, and she is indeed less happy than during the initial courtship stage.”
  • “The women who think that the birth of a child made them less happy must have some brain damage. I can accept that women who didn’t have children as yet could think this way, but mothers? Is it even possible for a mother to look at her kids without a smile?”
  • “This research is total crap. How could anyone even say that children bring unhappiness. I would want to see this smart man who wrote that. Children are a lot of work, patience, any mother will tell you that. If you do not love children, don’t have them.”
  • “In our times, it’s possible to order any research and get the desired result. It can be achieved through special technologies. This is why I doubt the results of this research. In our country there were already times after the October revolution of 1917 when the institute of marriage was cancelled and every person could satisfy their needs in any way they wished, and it was called personal freedom.”
  • “It’s not applicable to Russians, it’s a different mentality and lifestyle. Russians are a very special nation, with its own quirks. For example, the society’s view on families where people are not officially married is negative, people talk about them behind their backs, and don’t consider them serious, and call children born in such unions “illegally born”. So, everyone can make their own conclusions.”
  • “Every country has its own mentality. This is why judging by one country’s results is incorrect. In many countries women put their careers first, and not their family, this is why they have problems, a child is preventing the woman’s career growth, and a husband requires more attention. This is why life of such people becomes more complicated after they start a family. Even though this research was done over 15 years, I can say that it is not applicable to all countries. I can even judge for myself, I got married very early and had a baby, and I became only happier. It doesn’t prevent me working, and my husband is also happy. We want to have twins. We support each other in challenging moments, solve problems together, as the Russian saying goes, “One head is good, but two are better.” Of course, we have our difficulties. But I would never have the will to try certain things if it wasn’t for my husband. I can confidently say that this research is only applicable to the countries where career is more important than family. And you cannot measure everyone with the same ruler. Even though it looks convincing.”
  • “Maybe children make some people unhappy but we are quite the opposite! I am very happy. My children support me in difficult moments, I cannot imagine my life without them! When I wake up in the morning and see my smiling baby, I have a great motivation for the rest of the day!”
  • “Life is designed that way that a person without a partner cannot be happy and satisfied with his or her life by definition. A person is not made for that. What about women, 100% any of them strive to be a beloved wife and a mother. It is simply the modern world that has distorted values, and it prevents a person to be always happy, whether he has a family or not. About the children, it’s designed by God that the highest pleasure a woman can get is from her children, and it means more than one. To be satisfied as a mother, a woman should have not 1, not 2, but at least 3 children.”
  • “I do not understand what people mean when they say you should have enough fun for yourself before marriage. I will be having fun for the rest of my life, with my husband and the children given to us by God. Living for myself means for me living with the people I love, which means, first of all, my beloved husband and kids. Any life event will be 3 times more interesting if shared with your loved ones. Sharing the world, discovering it with the husband, and opening it for our children, being happy or sad together, sharing our emotions – can there be anything better than that? This incorporates all richness of life.”
  • “Children cannot make us unhappy. Even though there is a lot of work after they are born, they bring happiness to every mother, especially if she wanted the child.”
  • “I am an 18-year-old girl, and most of all in life I want to have a large and happy family. Lots of loving and happy children. And a husband who will support me and love me no matter what.”

In short, Russian women believe that happiness is a struggle, and that’s the way it meant to be. They also believe that only the courtship stage of a relationship should be pleasant for a woman, and the rest will be her making sacrifices for a husband and children, which she meekly accepts as the only way to experience the Nirvana of being a Mother. However, she won’t be having a child out of wedlock, as this is not what Nature and God meant for her.

Russian Orthodox Church views on family

Russian women believe, “Marriage and kids make you happy.”

In the western paradigm, happiness is a pleasure, but not in the Russian Christian tradition. The Russian Orthodox Church teaches women that “God endured, and so shall we”, and that she has to stick by her man, regardless of his virtues or faults.

Having a personal view opposing this standard is unacceptable for a woman. You will be looked upon as a cruel personage who doesn’t like babies and kittens. Not only that, an indifferent attitude or doing something that is viewed as inappropriate may cause a serious trouble for a woman.

“Yes, family is hard and a lot of work, but this is what happiness means”, that’s the epitome of thinking of Russian women about marriage and kids.

 

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CommentsКомментарии ( 18 )

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Johnson
Johnson
9 years ago

It is interesting that you write: “They also believe that only the courtship stage of a relationship should be pleasant for a woman, and the rest will be her making sacrifices for a husband and children, which she meekly accepts as the only way to experience the Nirvana of being a Mother.” I have seen a number of profiles where women write that they want to find their partner who will “make me happy.” This is however not an accurate picture of the reality of marriage, or other life events. Psychological studies tracking happiness through time have revealed that as… Read more »

Reply
Elena
Author
Elena
9 years ago
Reply to  Johnson

Johnson,

An average Russian woman (not a psychologist, not a dating or relationship specialist) believes that having a husband who loves her and starting a family will make her happy.
The research about the “base level of happiness” is intriguing. Can you provide links?

At the same time, there is a great body of research demonstrating that men in long-term relationships are healthier and happier. Can it be because happier people are more likely to attract and keep a partner? And the ones who are unhappy struggle to maintain a relationship?

Reply
Brian
Brian
9 years ago

This article articulates exactly what my friend Micheal was telling me. He tried this site first and had success because he was looking for a woman more relationship focused than the typical American women one would meet. If you want someone who is a partner with the same goals as yourself this is very important. Current Russian values encourage working hard to get and maintain a relationship, other countries have became more focused on selfish priorities and individual goals of both men and women.

Reply
Julia
Julia
9 years ago

As it was said we are all free and can choose what we want. And there is no violence against our minds. It’s true that the Bible teaches us to leave not for ourselves but for other beloved people. My research in philology shows that Slavic women accept success more like family, western women – more like career. Nowadays Russian women live keeping this canon but they can realize themselves not only in family but also in career and so on. We try to be universal and don’t denude ourselves being happy with family, loving husband and bearing children. Otherwise… Read more »

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Hitesh
Hitesh
9 years ago

I read the article and the comments with interest. I have to definitely agree with Brian in that the appeal of Slavic ladies is that they are much more focused on relationships and families rather than most Western women. Coming from an Eastern culture myself, I can understand the Russian mentality about the women being the bedrock of the family. However marriage vows are there for a reason “ to love and cherish each other until death do you part “ and that isn’t a reason for men to cheat on their partners, nor treat them badly. One may argue… Read more »

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Elena
Author
Elena
9 years ago
Reply to  Hitesh

In Russia women have 1.6 children per woman, and in Australia and the USA 1.9. Who is more family oriented, Russian women or western women? 🙂

All this cult of family and propaganda of traditional values and happiness in children-rearing, and the “career-orientated” western women have more kids than “family-loving” Russian women!

Reply
George
George
9 years ago
Reply to  Elena

Your mistake is to assume that all women in the USA and Australia is are”western women”. It is well known that certain ethnic groups (who incidentally have more traditional values) are having many more children than those with “career orientated” western women in these countries.

Reply
Elena
Author
Elena
9 years ago
Reply to  George

George, Anyone who wants to argue statistics with me, be my guest! 🙂 No, the influence of ethnicity here is not substantial. In Australia, for example, only 25% of population were born outside the country. The second generation (children born or brought to the country before the age of 16) are normal westernized girls/boys. Immigrants don’t have more children than locals, unless they migrated with them. I have a woman I know who has 5 children. She is Australian, born here. They simply keep trying for a boy. All people from large families I know (3 or more kids) are… Read more »

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George
George
9 years ago
Reply to  George

I am more than happy to discuss statistics with anyone!

“The second generation (children born or brought to the country before the age of 16) are normal westernized girls/boys.”

This statement has nothing to do with statistics but I think it is “not even wrong” to quote a favorite physicist of mine :-). I would bring up certain issues about European politics to argue my point but I think that would ruin the good mood of the blog.

Feel free to disagree!

Reply
Elena
Author
Elena
9 years ago
Reply to  George

George,
You don’t have ethnic statistics on birth per woman, so your argument is just as anecdotal as mine. I have spent 1 year at uni studying statistics and methodology of research, and this is why I agree with Mark Twain that there are lies, dumned lies, and statistics. 🙂
Russia is also a very diverse country ethnically, with 85 autonomous republics and regions, each of which has its own language, and they are of different nationalities.

Reply
George
George
9 years ago
Reply to  Elena

^^^ Sorry for the bad grammer.

Reply
sam
sam
9 years ago
Reply to  Elena

Russian sex ratio Take it in considaration then talk.okay

Reply
Bob
Bob
9 years ago

Let me say this, I could not agree more with this. Western culture has forgotten about family values. Here we tend to divide and conquer and I am just sick and tired of this. THIS reason here is why I am wanting a woman from this culture. We have MANY good women here but the vast majority have bought into the crap that women do not need men, that men are idiots and women have all the power, that women need to be more like men and not be regulated to raising children. NEVER in my life have I heard… Read more »

Reply
Irina
Irina
9 years ago

This is a very interesting information, I could not agree with it more! Russian women are so limited in some spheres when it comes to making family and having babies. They do not choose between family and carrier, because they have been convinced that the only woman’s duty is to give birth to as many children as she can, and take care of her husband, feed him, support him, being patient and quiet. Sounds so wrong! Everyone has a choice. But the thing is also that many people will judge a girl who decided to choose her own future for… Read more »

Reply
Olga
Olga
9 years ago

I’m a russian woman and I actually think it’s Western women who are being brainwashed. How they were convinced that a career is more important than missing first (and more) years of their children? I have two Master’s degrees, but when I had my son they all seemed so insignificant to me! And no, nobody “convinced” me that i should stay at home and take care of the house, i just would never forgive myself if I didn’t breastfeed my child, if i missed his first milestones and if that wasn’t me who taught him first words! I think women… Read more »

Reply
Elena
Author
Elena
9 years ago
Reply to  Olga

Olga, you are wrong if you think that western women don’t enjoy spending time with their newborn kids. They enjoy it just as much as Russian women. Fathers here also often take time off when their kids are born, for example Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, took a paternity leave when his daughter was recently born. When Andrew Murray yesterday lost in the final of Australian Open tennis tournament to Novac Djokovic, the speeches were mostly not about the fact that Djocovic won his 6th Australian Open title but about Murray who is about to become a father –… Read more »

Reply
SD Goswami
SD Goswami
8 years ago

Tradition and thought of Russian women r same like Indian, which is more strong than rest of globe. I salute Russian women.

Reply
SD Goswami
SD Goswami
8 years ago

Exceptions are everywhere, exception can’t make rule 4 whole

Reply

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