And They Lived Happily Ever After

Helene Carlbäck is Associate Professor in History at Södertörn University, Sweden. She has published and edited several books and articles on Soviet-Swedish relations in the 20th century, as well as on Russian family and gender history. Yulia Gradskova, holds a Ph.D. in History from Stockholm University. She is currently lecturer in History at Södertörn University. She has published several articles on femininity constructions, maternity and beauty in the Soviet and contemporary Russian context. She is also involved in the research project Family and the Strong State: Emancipation or Coercion? (Södertörn University). Zhanna Kravchenko holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Stockholm University. She is currently Research Fellow (postdoc) at the School of Social Work, Lund University. Her research interests include family sociology, social policy, and housing planning.

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.

Preface Family and parenting in Eastern Europe and Russia before and after the fall of socialism PART I "We think the law is totally unjust". Popular attitudes to family legislation in Soviet Russia Family, divorce, and comradeship tribunals: Soviet family and public organisations during the Thaw A life of labor, a life of love: Telling the life of a young peasant mother facing collectivization East German women going West. Family, children and partners in life experience literature The family and the state in Soviet Latvia: 1945-1989 Lithuanian Office of State Benefits for Mothers of Large Families and Single Mothers, 1944-1956. First attempts to implement the Decree of July 8, 1944 PART II "Two children is in the zone of social misery." Childbearing and risk perception among Russian women "Supporting the genuine development of the child". Public childcare centers versus family in post-Soviet Russia Everyday continuity and change: family and family policy in Russia Single mothers - clients or citizens? Social work with poor families in Russia Welfare crisis and crisis centers in Russia today: Preliminary theses and questions Marriage and divorce law in Russia and the Baltic States: Overview of recent changes Doing parenting in post-socialist Estonia and Latvia Experiences of and views on gender roles in Russian families Note on Contributors