Family Life

Family life changed dramatically under the rule of Stalin. Attempts were made to change the role of women because Marx had identified them as being exploited historically. Therefore, women were to participate as male workers did in the factories. A number of new laws came into effect to "free" women. The banning of wearing wedding rings, free abortions, and divorces would be granted by just asking. These laws were designed to allow women more control of their lives, and to work as equals in the new socialist society.

The idea of empowering women did not produce the effect the government had hoped. The birth rate fell tremendously and divorces were occurring much faster than people were getting married. Stalin was forced to change the laws back in order to make divorce and abortion difficult. He even provided marriage incentives for young couples in the attempt to increase the birth rate. Stalin's interference in the professional and personal lives of his citizens shows the amount of power he held over the citizens of the USSR.