The Women of 1917: Bolshevik Feminists and the Battle for Equality

In the chaos of the Russian Revolution, a group of women fought not just for socialism but for women's liberation. This episode explores the Bolshevik feminist movement, focusing on Alexandra Kollontai, the only woman in Lenin's first government. We discuss her campaign for legal abortion, divorce, and communal childcare, the creation of the Zhenotdel (Women's Department), and the backlash from conservative Bolsheviks. The conversation also touches on Inessa Armand, Kollontai's rival and Lenin's confidante, and the eventual dissolution of the Zhenotdel under Stalin. A nuanced look at how the revolution both empowered and constrained women's rights.

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