week 7

Questions of the week!!!!

      1.What changes did communist regimes bring to the lives of women?

The communist invited the thought of how women should be empowered and seen as an equal. Communist countries were opening their doors into the “women’s liberation,” where it gives women the opportunity or political equality, where marriage is consented between two people, the idea of divorce was being accepted, abortion was not seen as a negative procedure, women didn’t have to take their husband’s surname, and maternity leave was by law, and seen as an equal in the work field.. This pretty much sounded very good in comparison on how women were seen as delicate flowers who needed to tend to the family, the men, and all house chores. I know the idea living in a communist country doesn’t sound very charming right now, but back then it seemed like women could live an equal life. Especially in the Soviet Union where there was a small women’s movement was getting it shapes. At this time it seemed that women were rising up in the communist country.  One particular group that was well known are the  “Zhenotdel,” they were a radical women’s group that provided training for women to work, literacy classes, encouraged for Muslim women to take off their veil, and they were the new face of change. There regime lasted for about ten years until women were being too daring and not many were ready for more drastic change. These new changes were making communist government officials very uneasy and they started to act upon and abolished this group. In my mind they lasted longer than I would of thought. Just hearing within the ten years they were able to make a difference for women especially given them a voice and ability to do things themselves without male approval.  Not only did the Soviets were able to make a difference, but also in China gave women some rights such as a free marriage, easy divorce, and equal property rights.  Just reading this small area it opens to show that even for a small area in the communist regimes, women were seen as a great equal in particular ways. In similarities, the Soviets and China shared the common goal for women is to marry who they wanted, divorce easy, and being able to hold their own name.


2.How was Europe able to recover from the devastation of war?
Europe was able to recover by how the U.S. was able to funnel in 12 billion dollars to Europe on the behalf of the Marshall Plan.  This was all motivated by the act of humanitarian which wanted to prevent any depression in European waters.  The Marshall Plan required the need for all European countries to get along and guess what everyone agreed to this idea. This became more beneficial due to the fact that as the countries leaned on each other and created the European Coal and Steel Company that led to manage the production of these precious items. Also the Common Market was created to reduce tariffs and develop mutual trade policies. America helped out the European countries from falling into a huge depression and out of this we were able to create a strong bond and become committed to one another. I think it’s interesting to hear that the U.S. were able to assist during the time that Europe was falling apart and how were able to lend them money as well. Who would of thought we wanted to create peace between warring countries.