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Did The Bolshevik Revolution Improve Lives Of Soviet Women?

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Did The Bolshevik Revolution Improve Lives Of Soviet Women?
Did the Bolshevik Revolution Improve the Lives of the Soviet Women?
Introduction
This argumentative paper presents clashing views on controversial issues in Western Civilization. The particular issue under consideration is the Bolshevik Revolution. Two authors, Richard Stites, and Françoise Navailh argue out the issue; Stites argues that the Bolshevik Revolution improved the lives of Soviet women while Navailh's argument suggests otherwise. In summary, Stites attributes women emancipation to the Women's Department (Zhenotdel) at the onset of the Bolshevik Revolution. Stites concludes that the Zhenotdel's efforts to raise the consciousness of the Soviet women in a male-dominated society resulted in women's liberation. On the other hand, Navailh …show more content…
Stites mentions that the Bolshevik Revolution brought about equality for women which empowered them to fight for sustained liberation. Unlike in the past (like during the World War I) where women were confined to domestic operations, the Bolshevik Revolution is said to have offered more competitive positions for women in the society. Stites notes that by 1920, women held powerful posts in Military Revolutionary Committees and Political Departments. Some of the famous historical women in power during and after the Soviet Revolution were Alexandra Kollontai - Head of Zhenotdel, Stasova, Armand, Balabanova, and Krupskaya. Kollontai faced stiff opposition from the authoritarian figures due to her persistence to fight centralism and bureaucracy. Kollontai eventually lost her post as head of Zhenotdel. However, she secured a post as Soviet ambassador to Sweden (Stites, …show more content…
Stites introduces the concept of a particular newspaper titled Rabotnitsa (The Woman Worker). The newspaper enabled the Bolsheviks to mobilize masses of women, both working class and peasants. Rabotnitsa publishers would call mass meetings and demonstrations to fight against women oppression and exploitation by the political and economic facets. The newspaper marked a major milestone in 1917 when it mobilized a conference of working women and passed a resolution for a standard work day of eight hours. The medium of communication played a great role in improving the lives of the Soviet women (Stites,
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