Survival Guide: How Women Can Thrive in Russia Within the Law
Facing Russia’s Harsh Reality
Once again, we confront the stark reality of life in Russia, where hopes for equality, justice, and a decent quality of life are constantly challenged. As women juggle careers, families, and personal goals, the state presents new hurdles that threaten not just their stability and comfort, but their very safety. Following recent controversial events surrounding feminism, we now address the critical issue of security. What must Russian women do to survive and thrive in this environment?
Decriminalization of Domestic Violence
After the potential abortion ban, another societal discord arose with a bill passed by the State Duma on January 11, 2017. This bill, proposed by Olga Batalina and members of the United Russia party, aims to decriminalize domestic violence, reclassifying it as an administrative offense. This initiative was sparked by an earlier law that categorized minor domestic assaults, or “slaps,” as criminal offenses.
Politician Yelena Mizulina argues that this law has worsened domestic violence, as “domestic assaults have become more dangerous than assaults by strangers,” undermining the family values she and Vitaly Milonov champion. They believe such offenses should be administrative, punishable by fines.
The Core Problem
In essence, this law jeopardizes the safety of potential and actual victims of domestic violence. It does nothing to strengthen Russian families and instead puts women and children at real risk. While this law is not the cause of domestic violence in Russia, the lack of state support for victims exacerbates the problem. It emboldens those previously restrained by the law and those unaffected by criminal liability.
Olga Batalina explains the law as addressing public confusion over why domestic conflicts resulting in assault are criminal, while similar actions outside the home are administrative offenses. However, the real confusion lies in why violence is not always considered a crime and why we settle for lesser evils instead of combating them.
Hidden Benefits of the Law
Despite the government’s regressive methods to uphold family values, Mizulina’s policy does have a silver lining. The issue often lies with the citizens themselves. Deputies likely intend to foster not just law-abiding citizens but also adequate spouses through the promotion of family values. However, this is speculative.
We spoke with individuals affected by domestic violence. Analyzing these situations reveals a dangerous trend beyond violence against women and children: a lack of communication culture with men. Consider this scenario: a couple lives in an unhappy marriage. The woman, feeling helpless and unable to change her situation financially, morally, or logically, constantly nags her husband, leading to an eventual outburst from the equally unhappy man who cannot take responsibility for his family or even his own life.
We do not excuse these men or deny that violence is a critical issue that needs addressing from the top down. Quality laws, victim support, and economic regulations are necessary to ensure financial and ideological independence, enabling individuals to stand up for themselves. However, it’s not that simple. We cannot ignore cases where violence stems from a lack of understanding about marriage, self-improvement, and the reality of such laws.
What Women Should Do
Given these complexities, being a woman in Russia seems more dangerous than ever. Women can no longer be carefree or rely on the prospect of marriage for security. If in danger, a woman must move mountains to protect herself, often having to leave her home. She cannot solely focus on raising children correctly, especially with questionable guidance from the State Duma.
The only option left is to work hard to achieve financial independence, ensuring she can protect herself and her children by having her own home to escape to if necessary. Feminism, often vilified by traditionalists, is the sensible solution. It’s not about fighting for questionable freedoms but about understanding the need for independence, creating strong, happy families, and improving oneself.
Like relationships, the state is a two-way street. We get what we deserve until we prove we deserve better. Therefore, modern women need feminism more than ever. To avoid becoming victims of violence, women must educate themselves about this issue and know where to seek help. Russia has hotlines offering moral and material support, as well as safe houses for those in danger.
Start researching this topic, even if you feel safe. Awareness not only helps those in need but also opens eyes to the reality of living in the present.
