‘Mother Russia’ at Work: Gender Divisions in the Medical Profession

Harden, Jeni

Abstract

One of the most significant changes in the medical professions in Europe is the trend towards feminization. Some of the patterns of gender inequality arising from the feminization of the European medical professions are clearly apparent within the Russian medical profession, which experienced feminization 70 years ago. Yet little is known about the processes by which these patterns of gender inequality emerged and were maintained. This article is based on interviews with female doctors in Voronezh, Russia in 1996. It explores the attitudes of these women to gender divisions within the medical profession. This is placed within the wider context of Soviet and post-Soviet employment and family policies directed at women. It is suggested that the material and ideological focus on women's role in reproduction had direct implications for the choices women made in relation to paid labour

Citation

Harden, J. (2001). ‘Mother Russia’ at Work: Gender Divisions in the Medical Profession. European Journal of Women's Studies, 8(2), 181-199. https://doi.org/10.1177/135050680100800204

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jul 25, 2016
• Publication Date: 2001-05
• Deposit Date: Apr 16, 2008
• Print ISSN: 1350-5068
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-7420
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 181-199
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/135050680100800204
• Keywords: gender inequality, medical profession, occupational segregation, Russia, Soviet Union
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/2222
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/135050680100800204