Education:
1. Education became more widespread and more accessible-
- Stalin made education compulsory and free.
- Literacy rates in the Soviet Union were very low, especially in rural areas, but after the implementation of Stalin's education policies the literacy rate rose to 86% of the population just in rural areas. These policies yeilded the nearly complete disappearance of illiteracy.
- This was beneficial for society, however it also enabled Stalin to reach more of the population through propaganda and media, promoting himself and party values.
2. Indoctrination- creating ideal Soviet citizens-
- "The 20 Rules of Student Behavior"- Rule One- "It is the duty of each school child to acquire knowledge persistently so as to become an educated and cultured citizen and to be of the greatest possible service to his country." (Strict rules that students were expected to follow/ high expectation for students as future citizens).
- Bolshevik party values taught in schools/ classes and teachers were often monitored by the secret police and educational materials were strictly censored by the government.
- The history of Russia and also Stalin's past were taught in schools to instill national pride.
- Schools became stricter- Education law in 1935 enabled stricter discipline methods by teachers
- Outside of school, the youth was also targeted by youth organizations with the aim of teaching the younger generation to be good socialists/communists.
3. Reimplementation of traditional courses-
- Stalin again established a heavy focus on math and science, courses previously replaced by vocational training under Lenin's rule (Lenin implemented in order to expand growth of society opposed to focusing on the personal advancement of individuals).
- Also reimplemented examinations to place students in their future roles as Soviet citizens.
- Stalin's policies contradicted Lenin's actions, suggesting that Stalin's policies were not implemented with the pure intent of following marxist values (contradictory because of marxist teachings in schools).
- Implementation of these traditional courses expanded the education of the individual.
"Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it ain his hands and at whom it is aimed." -Joseph Stalin
"Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas." -Joseph Stalin
Women's rights
Under Stalin's rule, the balance established between the focus on motherhood and family values and on women's rights often benefited women, however these measures were taken often without women's rights in mind.
1. Women's rights-
- Under Lenin, there were laws to "free" women (wearing of wedding rings banned, abortions easily obtained, divorce can be granted after the request of one spouse)- women also worked in factories as equals (supposedly provided women with more equality and control of their lives).
- Based on Bolshevik ideal established by Marx that women have historically been exploited.
- Under Stalin, free health services were provided to workers, holidays from work with pay were increased (benefiting women as well), and factories also established "sitting" services for mothers so that they could work even while caring for children.
- However, feminist advances (such as the Zhenotdel- "women's sector"- of the Communist Party) were also disregarded by Stalin- he abolished the Zhenotdel in 1930.
- Women did not hold high Party positions under Stalin- contradictory to his planned Party structure.
2. Focus on motherhood and family values-
- During Lenin's rule, birth rates fell dramatically, there were significantly more divorces than marriages, and the amount of children born outside of marriages increased, corresponding with the high levels of homeless children especially in Russian cities.
- Stalin decided to return the law to its previous state before Lenin's changes- focused on strengthening family units and values.
- Stalin passed policies that made divorce more difficult, made abortion a criminal offense, provided tax benefits to families with larger numbers of children, and issued incentives for marriages (aim to increase birth rate).
3. Stalin's intentions-
- Women's rights, such as allowing them to work in factories, benefited the economy becuase of the influx of new workers, and the economy was one of Stalin's main focuses.
- Increasing the birth rate would provide Stalin with more people to employ in factories to accomplish his lofty economic 5 year plans (Stalin costantly focused on the high demand for labor within Soviet industry).
- The extreme need for labor was intensified by wars (WWI, WWII, the Civil War), collectivization, and Stalin's purges- 1932-1937 82% new employees were women.
- Even though women benefited from many policies, they still often occupied lower positions in the workplace and still faced discrimination.
- Women also worked as homekeepers in addition to working in the workplace, leaving little time for any other activities such as higher education.
- Providing women with rights ultimately benefited Stalin's various other policies, therefore it seems that he implemented social policies to establish women's rights as a result of his concern for other policies rather than his concern for his women citizens.
Bibliography
Hoffmann, David Lloyd. Stalinist values: the cultural norms of Soviet modernity, 1917-1941. New York: Cornell University Press, 2003.
“Life Under Stalin’s Rule.” http://www.ecclesbourne.derbyshire.sch.uk/ecclesbourne/content/subsites/history/files/Mr%20Mc%09s%20Russia%20Themes%20Resources/Life%20under%20Stalin.pdf.
“The Totalitarian State.” History 20. http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/history20/unit2/sec1_07.html.
Van Gorp, Katrina. “Women Under Stalin.” http://web.archive.org/web/20040423084233/http:/www.dickinson.edu/~history/dictators/stalin_ women.html
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