WOMEN'S BATTALIONS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY IN 1917 AS A FACTOR IN THE LOOSENING OF GENDER ROLES IN WARTIME

Author(s):  P.G. Kultyshev, South Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, halchard@mail.ru

Issue:  Volume 45, №1

Rubric:  Topical issues of russian history

Annotation:  In the article the problem of creation of women's military units as a means to breaking the gender prohibi-tion regarding the possibility of women passing military service in the army is considered. This ban was lifted in conditions of political instability and the threat of war, when the Russian army was losing the appearance of a disciplined military force. In these circumstances, the leadership of the country at the suggestion of M.L. Botchkareva, have made a decision about the organization of women's battalions. The main purpose of these units was not so much the participation in military actions as providing moral im-pact on the demoralized soldiers. However, the realities of military service was for many women unpre-pared ordeal. Many of them were not ready for the army of brutality and unquestioning obedience. The rejection of the conventions of civil life passed painfully and not without flashes of discontent. The break-ing of gender taboos in the spring and in the autumn of 1917 proved unsuccessful for many reasons. The initiative of M.L.Botchkareva, which bore originally only indicative for the support of the army and the government quickly lost its momentum once the power has ceased to need such support.

Keywords:  gender taboo, women's battalions, Russian army, 1917, Maria Bochkareva.

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