Gender-Related Issues in Russian-British Couples

The equality that Russian women want, differs from that desired by Western women. Russian women see themselves as far more traditional in their dealings with men and their views on domestic life (Richmond 2003:59). As it was argued earlier in this work (see chapter 2.1.1), Russian women would prefer not to work if the economic situation of the family can afford this, primarily because in Russia they did not have a choice and were forced to work. Traditional family role expectations in Russia show that it is men who should be the only bread-winner. The question of women’s employment outside the house, enters into contradiction with the feminine qualities that are so widespread in Russian culture. There are some women who will be able to fulfil their role in the public sphere; public opinion labels those women as “more masculine in character”. However, the majority of women content themselves with their domestic and family lives. Financial independence contradicts one of the major perceptions Russian women have of themselves, i.e. to be “weak” and to seek a man’s strength and protection, to be feminine, to bear and raise children, to take care of her husband and to be a good housewife.

Russian women with their stronghold of norms, feelings and assumptions, still rely on male privilege for economic self-sufficiency. Her main models are that of domesticity, maternity, and femininity. Such attitudes of Russian women could contradict the expectations of British men who are used to women being committed to their work outside the house. Such expectations could hardly fulfill a Russian woman; the idea of being a “provider” for a family, which is in her mind the man’s responsibility, contradicts her believes about femininity and masculinity. This issue is one the most problematic and worth a great deal of attention and awareness from partners of both cultures.