Soviet Union RPG

Information

Soviet Union (USSR): Life and Society The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) existed from 1922 to 1991. This period covers several eras: Stalinism, Khrushchev's "thaw", stagnation under Brezhnev and collapse under Gorbachev. Life in the USSR was complex, diverse and depended on time, region and social status. --- People's lives in the USSR Women Soviet ideology proclaimed equality of the sexes. Women had equal rights with men: the right to work, education, participation in public life. However, everyday reality added a double burden: work and housework. 1. The role of women: A woman had to be not only a mother, but also an active participant in the construction of socialism. Mothers with many children received benefits. Beauty was not encouraged: it was believed that a Soviet woman should be modest and hardworking. Makeup and bright clothing were frowned upon, especially in the early periods. 2. Work: Women made up a significant portion of the workforce (doctors, teachers, engineers). Heavy physical labor was also common (for example, women worked in factories and in agriculture). 3. Family: Divorce was available, but frowned upon. Abortion was legalized in 1955, but remained a controversial topic.

Information

Men A man in the USSR was seen as a "breadwinner" and defender of the Motherland. His main responsibilities were work, participation in the construction of socialism and protection of the state. 1. The role of a man: A man was expected to be loyal to the party and hard-working. Military service was mandatory (2-3 years). 2. Work: Men more often occupied leadership positions. Physical labor was considered a sign of courage. 3. Family: A man was expected to be the main breadwinner. --- Children 1. Upbringing: From an early age, children were brought up in the spirit of patriotism. Pioneer organizations (Pioneers and Komsomol) played an important role. 2. Education: Universal free education. Much attention was paid to the exact sciences and propaganda. 3. Toys and entertainment: Simple toys (dolls, cars, soldiers). In the courtyards they played football, lapta, hide-and-seek. Attitudes towards LGBT The LGBT community was subjected to brutal persecution. 1. Criminalization: Homosexuality among men was considered a criminal offense (Article 121 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR). Punishment - up to 5 years of imprisonment. 2. Secrecy: Many hid their orientation. LGBT people were subjected to social isolation. 3. Propaganda of morality: Soviet propaganda emphasized traditional family values. --- Economy and everyday life 1. Housing: Most people lived in communal apartments, where several families shared a kitchen and bathroom. In the 60s and 70s, mass construction of "Khrushchevkas" - cheap panel houses - began. 2. Products: Shortages were common. Some goods required long queues. A rationing system existed in some periods. 3. Medicine: Free, but the quality left much to be desired. Queues to see doctors were the norm. 4. Clothing: Most people wore standard, mass-produced clothing. Imported items were considered a luxury.

Information

Political System 1. Control: The state had complete control over the lives of citizens. The KGB monitored dissent. 2. Censorship: The media was strictly controlled. Western culture was frowned upon. 3. Ideology: Belief in communism was mandatory. Religion was restricted (many churches were closed or used for other purposes). --- Culture and Entertainment 1. Cinema: Films were made glorifying socialism. Many films were educational. 2. Music: Soviet pop music was popular, Western music was censored. 3. Books: Literature was often propaganda. Peculiarities of life in different periods of the USSR 1. Stalin's era (1922–1953): Harsh dictatorship. Mass repressions. Industrialization and collectivization. 2. Khrushchev's "thaw" (1953–1964): Some liberalization. Space successes. 3. Brezhnev's stagnation (1964–1982): Stability, but economic decline. Shortage of goods. 4. Collapse (1985–1991): Glasnost and perestroika under Gorbachev. Increasing economic problems.

Everyday life 1. Contraception and abortion: Contraception was indeed poorly available and unreliable. Condoms, known as "rubber bands," were rare and of poor quality. Hormonal contraception was almost non-existent, so many women resorted to abortion. In the 1960s and 70s, abortion became the main method of birth control, which affected women's health. 2. Toilet paper: Toilet paper really only appeared on the market in 1969, but even then it was a rarity. Many people used newspapers and magazines for hygiene needs. 3. Food: The diet was very limited. People often stood in long lines for basic products: bread, milk, meat. Imported fruits (oranges, bananas) were considered delicacies and appeared only during the New Year holidays. Homemade food was the norm: jam, pickles, dried mushrooms. 4. Housing conditions: Many families lived in communal apartments, where several families had to share one kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Khrushchev-era apartments became a symbol of mass housing, but they were cramped and not always comfortable. 5. Clothing and footwear: The shortage also extended to clothing. People bought the same type of things, and sewing at home was a common hobby. Jeans were considered a luxury item, they were brought from abroad. 6. Transportation: City transport was accessible, but overcrowded. A car was considered a status symbol, and people stood in line for years to get one.

Women in the USSR Role in society: Women actively worked alongside men, especially in agriculture and industry. At the same time, they were expected to perform all household chores. Image of women: A woman had to be strong, hard-working, raise children and support her husband. The ideal of the Soviet woman was often portrayed in propaganda as a "shock worker". Feminism: The idea of ​​feminism in the classical sense did not develop. Although women formally had equal rights, the patriarchal culture remained. Men in the USSR Image of men: The ideal of the Soviet man was a hard-working worker or soldier, devoted to the motherland. He had to be strong, not show weakness and fulfill his role as a breadwinner. Alcohol: Alcoholism was a common problem. Many men drank as a way to cope with stress. Attitude to children Education: Children were brought up in the spirit of socialism from an early age. Much attention was paid to discipline, collectivism, and instilling a love of work. Toys: There were few toys, and they were simple: wooden dolls, cars. Board games and homemade toys were popular. Labor education: Children were taught to work from an early age. Schools practiced subbotniks and work on school plots. LGBT+ in the USSR Prohibitions: Homosexuality was illegal. Until 1993, it was considered a criminal offense for which they could give up to 5 years in prison. LGBT people were persecuted, fired, and publicly condemned. Social attitude: Any deviation from the traditional family model was considered antisocial.

Economy 1. Planned economy: Goods were produced not according to demand, but within plans. This often led to shortages and queues. 2. Free services: Healthcare, education and housing were provided free of charge, but the quality left much to be desired. Entertainment 1. Culture: Cinema, theatre and literature were under strict state control. Most films and books were propaganda. 2. Television: Televisions were rare until the 1960s, and programs were often broadcast in black and white. 3. Music: Soviet songs and classical music were popular. Rock music was considered a Western influence and was banned. Holidays New Year was the main family holiday, and May 1 and November 7 were state holidays. These aspects give a better understanding of life in the USSR, which was at once harsh and filled with unique features.

Conscription age: In the USSR, men were drafted into the army at the age of 18. The term of service was: 2 years for the ground forces; 3 years for the navy. Preparation for service: Schools had classes in basic military training (BMT), where teenagers were taught how to handle weapons, studied drill training and the basics of civil defense. Attitude to service: Service in the army was considered the duty of every man, refusal to do so was condemned. Those who "dodged" were branded as cowards. --- Left-handers were aggressively retrained to be right-handed Why they were retrained: In the USSR, left-handedness was considered a "deviation" from the norm. It was believed that writing and working with the left hand was inconvenient and incorrect. Many also associated left-handedness with "un-Soviet" behavior and individualism, which was not encouraged. Retraining methods: Teachers were required to force children to write with their right hand. In some cases, children had their left hand tied so that they could not use it. This often caused psychological trauma. --- Age of marriage and childbearing Age of marriage: According to official statistics, people often married quite early: Women: 18 to 22 years old. Men: 20 to 25 years old. Early marriage was common especially in rural areas. Reasons for early marriage: Social pressure: unmarried women over 25 were considered "old maids". Soviet propaganda emphasized the importance of family.

Children: Families had many children, especially in villages, where 3-4 children were considered the norm. Women often gave birth right after marriage. --- Miscellaneous information to understand that time Education Kindergartens: The kindergarten system was well developed, but there were not enough places. It was considered the norm to send children to kindergarten from 1-2 years old. Schools: Education began at the age of 7. Education was strict: punishments for behavior, high discipline. Excellent students received medals, which were very prestigious. Higher education: Universities were free, but it was not easy to get into. Many areas, such as medicine, engineering, required passing difficult exams. Work Employment: Everyone had to work, unemployment was formally eliminated. For parasitism, one could get a punishment up to and including criminal.

Salaries: The average salary was about 120-150 rubles per month. Engineers, doctors and teachers received a little more, workers a little less. Women Work and family: Women combined work and taking care of the house. Even in conditions of equality, household chores remained theirs. Cosmetics and clothes: Cosmetics and fashionable clothes were in short supply, so women did their makeup from improvised means: beets instead of lipstick, soot instead of mascara. Everyday life Housing: Most people lived in communal apartments or "Khrushchev-era" apartments. Space was limited, bathrooms and kitchens were shared. Equipment: Refrigerators and washing machines were rare. Televisions were considered a luxury item. Queues: Food and essential goods often had to be obtained through queues. LGBT Persecution: Homosexuality was considered a crime until 1993. Any deviation from the traditional heterosexual family was considered antisocial. Medicine Free, but ineffective: Medicines were often in short supply, equipment was outdated, but doctors worked devotedly. Demographic policy: Abortion was initially prohibited (until 1955), then legalized, but remained the main method of contraception.

Life after World War II The psychological state of men: 1. Injuries: Men returned from the front with severe physical and psychological injuries. 2. Post-traumatic stress disorder: PTSD was not recognized as a disease at the time. Men who had experienced the horrors of war often withdrew into themselves, were aggressive, and emotionally unstable. 3. Alcoholism: Alcohol became a way to drown out memories of the war. Veterans drank to cope with mental pain and find support among friends from the front. Impact on families: Many men became aggressive, irritable, and cold due to injuries. Women took on most of the care for the family, often suffering unfair treatment. Male Alcoholics 1. Causes of Alcoholism: After the war, alcohol became available and cheap. Workers in the cities drank alcohol to "relieve stress" after hard work. Lack of understanding of psychology and the inability to get help exacerbated the problem. 2. Social Consequences: Alcoholism destroyed families. Men often spent most of their income on alcohol, leaving their families without funds. --- Subcultures at the time Hipsters (50s-60s): Young people who were into Western fashion, music, and dancing. They were condemned as "enemies of Soviet ideology." Hippies (70s): A peacekeeping subculture focused on personal freedom. Punk and Rockers (80s): Followers of Western music. Often persecuted. Gopniks: Teenage gangs that grew out of working-class neighborhoods.

Men in families Patriarchy: The man was considered the head of the family. Women played the role of housewives even if they worked equally with men. Cruelty: Physical violence in the family was hushed up and considered a "family matter". Lack of emotions: Men rarely expressed feelings, and words of love or praise were rare. -- The topic of menstruation Hushing up: The topic of menstruation was considered taboo. Young girls were rarely initiated into this topic in advance, and for many, the onset of menstruation was a shock. Hygiene products: Modern pads and tampons did not exist. Women used gauze, cotton wool or fabric strips that were washed and reused. Childbirth Maternity hospitals: Childbirth took place in conditions far from modern standards. The wards were overcrowded, the attitude of doctors often left much to be desired. Pain and lack of pain relief: Painkillers were rarely used, as pain was considered a natural part of childbirth. Birth injuries: Due to the low level of medical training, birth injuries were common among mothers and children. --- Additional facts 1. Attitude to children: Children were brought up strictly, physical punishment was considered the norm. 2. Labor service: Children helped their parents with housework or at work. 3. Clothing: Most wore clothes sewn at home or bought with coupons. 4. Education: Schools paid attention to ideological education, and discipline was strict. 5. Entertainment: Reading, going to the cinema, and social events formed the basis of leisure.