Omg you have no understanding of Russia at all. For the millionth time, no none is telling women to be US 50s and 60s housewives! That never happened in Russia ever!
I have to STRONGLY disagree with you. But don't have much time to show examples. There is a strong emphasis now in Russian society on "classic family and values". Government provide a "child bearing/mother's fund" which used to be close to $10,000 USD before rate fell. Many talk-shows on main TV channels talk about "Woman's primary function in life is to be Mother and Wife". Big Time Show and business stars (females) talk about their careers but when asked what is their biggest accomplishment in life, compelled to say "Wife and Mother".
Small example from popular TV dating shows, like "Davaj Pozhenimsya" (Let's get Married), most women who are looking for husbands openly claim they want the husband to be the Head of the Family, and be the main bread winner. Some openly say "i only want to worry about house, child, cooking. the man must provide and make important decisions".
Very few women say "I want a career and be equal partner". Some do say it, but the reaction is "you are not marriage material - career and family does not go together".
The fact what women back in Soviet Times were allowed to drive tanks, pour concrete and operate high-cranes is true! But they were also expected to stop at the store, buy groceries, pick up kids, cook dinner, clean the house and wash the clothes, ALL that after they came home from work... operating a crane, or flying a test aircraft....
.
I was there in the 60's and 70's and saw it with my own eyes...... women came from work and started house tasks, men read newspapers and watched TV and asked "when is dinner ready'..... I returned in the 1990's....... and it was the same thing, most women even if worked were responsible for household tasks.....
.... Except! it is true that in a Free Market Economy (if you can call it in Russia as such) more women had an opportunity to start their own businesses, or to advance professionally because of huge shortage of qualified professionals. As much as Russian men were reluctant to higher a woman over a man for a high position, if the woman could do the job better, the business owners simply COULD NOT afford not to higher the best.
And yet it is still difficult and challenging. While men accept a woman in a high-level professional capacity, it's the other women in lower ranks that cause problems. They will let the "professional woman" know that they think something is wrong with her, and will critique her for "working in a man's job, not putting emphasis on family and children". Gosh forbid you don't have children or don't want them at all.... There is an accord across the board - something is wrong with a woman who does not want family and children. In some cases the critique of such choice is worst than for being gay.
Our company in Russia, and many non-private larger companies, have different hours for men and women. Women's work day ends at 17:00 o'clock and men's at 18:00 o'clock, for one purpose only - so women can go home and cook dinners. It is clearly stated, not implied. I am fighting this rule in our directors' meeting, and the men support me! But the female employees do NOT..... they like running home and cooking dinners and WOULD NOT THINK OF telling their husbands to share the tasks. I've been at it since 1990's..... it's 2016.... and they do not change.....
