And They Lived Happily Ever After

Norms and Everyday Practices of Family and Parenthood in Russia and Eastern Europe

Helene Carlback, Yulia Gradskova, Zhanna Kravchenko, Helene Carlback, Yulia Gradskova, Zhanna Kravchenko, Helene Carlbäck, Yulia Gradskova, Zhanna Kravchenko

• Publisher: Central European University Press
• Year: 2012
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9786155053597
• Subtopic: Marriage & Family Sociology
• Index: History

Takes a comparative perspective on family life and childhood in the past half century in Russia and Eastern Europe, highlighting similarities and differences. Focuses on the problematic domains of the institutions and laws devised to cope with family difficulties, and discusses the social strains created by the transition from communist to post-communist national systems. In addition to the substantial historic analysis, actual challenges are also discussed. The essays examine the changing gender roles, alterations in legal systems, the burdens faced by married and unmarried women who are mothers, the contrasts between government rhteoric and the implementation of policies toward marriage, children and parenthood. By addressing the specifics of welfare politics under the Communist rule and the directions of their transformation in 1990–2000s, this book contributes to the understanding of social institutions and family policies in these countries and the problems of dealing with the socialist past that this region face.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright page
• Table of Contents
• List of Abbreviations
• Preface
• Introduction
• PART I 1940s–1980s THE FAMILY AS A “BASIC UNIT OF SOCIALIST SOCIETY”
• PART II 1990s–2000s SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE MIRROR OF FAMILY LIFE
• Notes on Contributors
• Index
• back cover