Marriage in Russia
Marriage in Russia
It is common sense that as time progresses, changes occur, whether they are intentional, planned changes or not. When large, full-scale societal changes occur, however, there is often even greater fluctuation among the other aspects of society. Marriage has long been held as an institution that upholds the ideals of a nation, culture, or tribe. The ideas that are validated by this institution often manifest themselves in other parts of the society. Because marriage is such an integral part of social ideology, it is no wonder that it would be affected by vast changes in other institutions in a society. The changes that have occurred in Russia since the downfall of the Soviet Union are a prime example of this. Because of the economic strife and political change that occurred during the breakup of the Soviet Union and the consequent fall of Communism, the marriage rate decreased tremendously.
Although the Cold War never actually escalated to a tangible conflict between the two nations, it was in virtually every other sense, a tactical war.
The advent of war, no matter how long it has been anticipated, inevitably comes as a shocking surprise. Its outbreak is experienced as a great crisis full of stress and uncertainty. The sense of insecurity is not nourished solely by the particular event which sets it off…but also upon whatever factors may give rise to personal insecurity in industrial society: competitive pressures in markets, achievement competition, gaps between personal aspirations for success and frustrated endeavors, etc. The intensity and volume of insecurity at the outbreak of war focuses and polarizes all otherwise dispersed and segmented feelings of insecurity.(Gerth, 341)
It seems, evident, then, that chaos ensued, as the Cold War began. The Communism which had provided for the needs of the Soviet people was under close scrutiny, to see if it would be capable of continuing to provide for the needs of the people and withstand the pressures from outside, as well. When Communism fell, a new sense of insecurity entered into the Russian people. They no longer knew where they would get their next meal, many times, much less were they concerned about marriage.
According to statistics, the marriage rate in the Soviet Union has been steadily declining since 1970, while the divorce...