The Powers That Be: Daily Julia Ioffe on Russia’s Secret History
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Oct 22, 2025 Julia Ioffe, a journalist and author of *Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia*, delves into the evolution of Russian women's roles from the Soviet era to today. She shares insights on how Bolshevik policies enabled women to enter the workforce but also discusses the burnout they faced due to overwhelming domestic burdens. Ioffe highlights the legacy of figures like Alexandra Kollontai and reflects on contemporary issues, including rising domestic violence and the longing for traditional roles. Her work serves as a cautionary tale for global democracies.
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Beyond The Putin-Centric Narrative
- Julia Yaffe grew tired of explaining Russia solely through Vladimir Putin and sought broader historical texture.
- She framed her book to explore women’s roles across Russian history as an alternative lens to understand the country.
Family Lineage Of Soviet Professional Women
- Yaffe recounts multiple generations of professional women in her family, from doctors to chemical engineers.
- Their ordinary careers in Soviet life inspired her to trace why female professionalism was once common.
State Emancipation Without Support
- Bolshevik policies rapidly pushed women into full-time work while promising state support that largely failed to materialize.
- That mismatch left women exhausted, performing paid labor and unpaid domestic work without adequate infrastructure.
