The History of Russian Feminism with Julia Ioffe

In this episode of Russian Roulette, Max Bergman and Maria Snigovaya welcome Julia Yoffe, journalist and author of 'Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, From Revolution to Autocracy.' Yoffe recounts how her family's legacy of Soviet women in science and medicine—doctors, engineers, and professionals—inspired her to write a history that centers women's experiences rather than the usual male-centric narratives of Russian and Soviet history. She explores the paradox of early Soviet feminism: while revolutionary in policy—granting women rights to divorce, abortion, education, and employment—these gains were undermined by persistent patriarchal norms, state neglect of domestic labor, and the lack of real power or support for women in practice. Yoffe traces how women were expected to do 'two jobs'—professional and domestic—while being denied the social infrastructure to succeed in either. She highlights the stories of women at the top, like wives of Soviet leaders and revolutionary feminists such as Alexandra Kollontai, as well as ordinary women like her own family, to illustrate how Soviet ideals failed to translate into lived equality. The conversation turns to modern Russia under Putin, where state-promoted traditionalism clashes with women's realities: high abortion rates, domestic violence, and economic pressures continue despite government incentives to have more children. Yoffe argues that Russian women are not passive victims but navigate a complex landscape of resistance, pragmatism, and survival, often rejecting both Western feminism and state-imposed traditionalism. The war in Ukraine further exposes these contradictions, as some women welcome the removal of abusive husbands while others remain indifferent or actively support the war effort. Ultimately, the episode reveals a Russia where women’s agency is shaped by systemic exhaustion, economic necessity, and quiet defiance.