Journal «Woman in Russian Society»Articles – Journal «Woman in Russian Society»

Shvedova N. A. Artificial Intelligence and gender equality: global initiatives, P. 3-16

Инна Кодина — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:48:26 +0000

In the era of rapid development of technologies and artificial intelligence, knowledge and innovation are becoming key resources of society. The topic of gender equality is of particular importance, because equal opportunities for women and men in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics directly affect progress and justice in the world. Despite significant progress, women still face barriers in intellectual and technological fields: from lack of access to quality education to stereotypes and biases that limit their career opportunities. Global initiatives of the UN, WIPO, UNESCO in the context of integrating a gender perspective and promoting programs to integrate a gender component into the development of artificial intelligence cannot but attract close attention and genuine interest in conditions where artificial intelligence (AI) is performing the function of one of the key factors in the transformation of modern society and the economy.

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Rebrey S. M., Aleksandrova A. S. Women's opportunities in India: agency in axial institutions, P. 16-31

Инна Кодина — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:50:06 +0000

The article examines the opportunities of women in India through the six axial institutions prism — family, labor market, education, science, political and corporate governance. The scientific novelty of the research lies in a comprehensive economic analysis of the women role in axial institutions. The theoretical relevance of the problem is related to the discrepancy between the existing methods of assessing gender equality, which have been developed for developed economies, and the socio-cultural realities and developing countries peculiarities. The practical importance of the work is confirmed by the increased interest of the BRICS countries in women's empowerment, which affects the pace of their socio-economic development. According to the study results, it was found that the women position in India is characterized by ambivalence due to the socio-economic heterogeneity of the country and the strong influence of patriarchal norms. Despite a long history of progressive policies — India has been a pioneer in family planning, policy quotas, and corporate governance — the implementation of these initiatives runs into cultural barriers. This leads to paradoxical situations: with an increase in the level of education, for a long time there has been a decrease in women's labour force participation rate, and gender quotas in companies often lead to the appointment of nominee directors from among relatives. Significant progress has been made in the field of education, where the gender gap has almost been bridged, but there remains a sharp horizontal segregation in the labor market. Although there has been a positive trend in recent years due to an increase in the number of highly educated women, problems such as the high level of unpaid labour, the dominance of informal employment, and the structural lack of suitable jobs remain. Thus, the gap between progressive legislation and the real status of women remains a challenge for modern India.

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Rostovskaya T. K., Vasilieva E. N., Sitkovsky A. M. Developing technologies for solving family housing problems within the framework of demographic policy: problems and prospects, P. 32-48

Инна Кодина — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:51:38 +0000

The relevance of research into the development of technologies for solving the housing problems of Russian families is due to the complexity of the demographic situation. According to a number of sociological studies, Russians cite housing problems as one of the main reasons for delayed childbearing, while housing problems are responsible for negative demographic processes in many countries around the world. A theoretical review of Russian and foreign studies has made it possible to systematize data on the effectiveness of housing programs in demographic policy. The methodological basis of the study is the concept of family well-being, which has made it possible to compare housing as a factor in the well-being and needs of Russian families. The purpose of this study is to analyze institutional solutions that are used to solve the housing problems of Russian families and increase the birth rate in the Russian Federation. Statistical data serve as the information base for the study. The results
of the study will be used to formulate proposals for the development of technologies to support Russian families.

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Kalabikhina I. E. How various macro-level shocks can affect female employment, P. 49-73

Инна Кодина — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:53:40 +0000

The article discusses how various macro-level shocks (epidemiological, demographic, technological, and geopolitical shocks) can affect female employment as the basis for gender equality. The article uses official national statistics (Rosstat), statistics from international organizations, and secondary sources from scientific literature. The article is descriptive in nature, and the author used statistical and demographic methods of data analysis and visualization. This study's contribution to the topic of factors influencing gender equality consists in developing a set of hypotheses regarding the impact of various macro-level shocks on the prospects for gender equality, using the example of their impact on female employment. All of the shocks considered have both negative and positive consequences for female employment. Epidemiological shocks. During the pandemic, female employment declined more sharply than male employment due to sectoral segregation (trade and services) and increased childcare burdens due to school closures. In all of the economic shocks analyzed earlier in the last third of the 20th century, the effect was the opposite. The pandemic has had mixed effects on women's employment, both negative (automation and lower earnings from experience) and positive (improved work-life balance and reduced discrimination thanks to the introduction of remote learning and changing social norms regarding men's involvement in childcare and new opportunities for them to achieve a better work-life balance). To the long-term consequences should be added the effect of “weak” generations, which has led to the emergence of today's generation of pre-retirees and retirees who have been more affected by the shocks of the 1990s (men) and during the pandemic (women), which may affect the human capital of these cohorts (health status). Demographic shocks. On the one hand, demographic structural changes will lead to a decline in innovation, which may slow progress in gender equality. On the other hand, the shortage of young workers will improve the position of women in the labor market. Technological shocks. Technological progress (robotics and generative artificial intelligence) promotes gender equality by developing technologies that save time at work, at home, and in everyday life. On the other hand, routine work (which is more often performed by women) may lead to a higher risk of job loss for women. Women have lower digital skills and knowledge, which will lead to the need to pay a “pink tax” for success in the digital world, and generative artificial intelligence reproduces gender stereotypes to the detriment of women. Geopolitical shocks. On the one hand, the militarization of the economy creates more “cold male” jobs. On the other hand, direct and indirect losses of “male” labor will affect the use of female labor as a reserve. The so-called “pivot to the East” in economic cooperation may lead to a revival of patriarchal relations in the labor market, which could worsen the position of women in the workforce.

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Astoyants M. S., Kienko T. S. Features of social participation among older Russian women and men, С. 74-87

Инна Кодина — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:06:07 +0000

Based on a survey conducted in two Russian regions (Rostov and Sverdlovsk Regions), in which 520 respondents aged 60 and older were interviewed, the article examines the characteristics of social participation among older Russian men and women. The analysis of the research data is based on the level approach methodology developed by M. Levasser and her co-authors. In line with the level approach, the authors identified areas of social participation and the focus of activities, recorded intensity (frequency), developed a system of indicators, calculated an integral indicator of social participation, as well as its individual components characterizing the areas, focus (spaces), and forms of social participation. Statistically significant gender differences were found across all parameters. It was found that older women have a higher average level of social participation; their activity is significantly higher at all levels, from reactive forms of preparation for communication to proactive forms of civic and political participation. However, while the proportions of men with activity levels both below and above the average are approximately the same, there are twice as many women demonstrating above-average activity as those whose activity does not reach the average. At the same time, in a relatively small group of respondents demonstrating maximum activity (leaders), no gender differences were noted. Women were found to be more active in cultural and leisure, educational and developmental, social and domestic, and community activities, while there were no significant gender differences in participation in sports and health, political, and work activities. Older people are actively involved in practices aimed at their personal interests and their families, but only some of them are involved in activities outside their immediate circle. At the same time, there are no gender differences in the social activities of older women and men related to the satisfaction of their personal needs and interests, but women demonstrate greater involvement in activities aimed at others (family members, friends, neighbors, communities, and the country as a whole). The article empirically verifies the proposition that gender differences play a significant role in the social participation practices of older Russians.

Acknowledgments: this work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation under grant №23-28-00134 «Social participation of older people in Russian regions in the post-pandemic period»,
https://rscf.ru/en/project/23-28-00134/.

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Ushakova V. G., Savin S. D. Domestic violence in the public opinion of modern Russian citizens, P. 88-102

Инна Кодина — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:07:37 +0000

In recent years, the issue of domestic violence in Russian society has become increasingly prominent in public discourse. This problem has become particularly noticeable against the backdrop of government policy goals to strengthen the institution of the family and prioritize family spiritual and moral values. The purpose of this article is to analyze the social factors that influence public opinion in the Russian Federation regarding domestic violence. The article contains the latest materials from the author's sociological research, conducted using the standardized telephone interview method. The general population for this study was the adult population (aged 18 and older) of the Russian Federation. The parameters of the standard sample for the all-Russian public opinion poll were gender, age, and place of residence of the respondents. The sample consisted of 1,600 people. The sample coverage by region was carried out in terms of federal districts: Central — 439 people; North-West — 156 people; Far Eastern — 86 people; Siberian — 184 people; Volga — 318 people; North Caucasus — 102 people; Southern — 182 people; Ural — 133 people. The age parameters of the sample were further combined into three categories for analysis: young people (18-35 years old), middle-aged people (36-55 years old), and older age groups (over 56 years old). Data from international sociological studies, not only in Russia but also worldwide, show that generational differences in public opinion are becoming increasingly important. In addition, for a topic such as domestic violence, the socio-demographic parameters of gender and age of respondents reveal the most significant differences in responses, as the article analyzes family relationships. The results obtained convincingly show that the traumatic experience of childhood abuse affects not only personal development, but also future family relationships. Current social problems in families have both a past in the form of factors of violence and a future in the form of negative trends. An analysis of data from nationwide sociological surveys leads to the conclusion that domestic violence remains an acute problem in Russian society. Public opinion perceives it as a serious crime, and indirect data indicate that the actual level of domestic violence is higher than official statistics suggest. The article argues for the need to introduce sociological monitoring of the problem of domestic violence.

Acknowledgments: this work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation under grant № 24-28-00424, https://rscf.ru/project/24-28-00424.

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Markov A. V., Shtayn O. A. «Save my words forever»: women as a herbarium of immortality, P. 103-115

Инна Кодина — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:08:30 +0000

The article presents an original approach to interpreting the role of women in the works and biographies of prominent Russian writers and philosophers (Isaac Babel, Mikhail Bulgakov, Nikolai Berdyaev, Osip Mandelstam, Dmitry Merezhkovsky) through botanical metaphors. Each figure is associated with a specific plant that reveals the essence of their personality and legacy: Babel as a plane tree, Bulgakov as a linden, Berdyaev as an oak, Mandelstam as a willow, and Merezhkovsky as a laurel. This method draws inspiration from Michael Marder’s “The Philosopher’s Plant: An Intellectual Herbarium” and Olga Kushlina’s “Russian Literature Read Through the Nose”, where plants and scents serve as tools for cultural analysis. The article demonstrates how botanical imagery offers a fresh perspective on texts and destinies: Antonina Pirozhkova (Babel’s wife) is compared to an Antonovka apple, Elena Bulgakova to a narcissus, Nadezhda Mandelstam to an elderberry etc. Through these metaphors, themes of memory, creative duty, love, and survival in the era of repression are explored. The authors argue that plants are not just symbols but living witnesses of history, connecting literature, philosophy, and personal experience.

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Shapovalova I. S., Chernysheva E. A., Zavodyan I. S. Life strategies of girls and young women in Russia (Regional aspect), P. 116-136

Инна Кодина — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:11:18 +0000

The relevance of this study stems from the need to understand the life strategies of young women as a complex sociological problem in the context of the transformation of key social institutions, value pluralism, and the contradiction between traditional and modernist gender models in contemporary Russia. The article is based on data from an online survey of 5,000 young respondents (aged 14 —35) in the Belgorod region in 2025. The methodology includes a comparative gender analysis of mandatory life dispositions within the framework of economic, political, social, matrimonial, career, spiritual-moral, and self-preservation strategies. The results revealed the specificity of women's life strategies, characterized by rational adaptation to structural constraints: economic strategies are focused on risk minimization, sustainability, and social responsibility, with a lack of entrepreneurial and investment attitudes; in the political sphere, a strategy of distancing and minimalist conformism against a backdrop of deep gender asymmetry; in the social sphere, involvement mainly in executive, socially approved practices with limited attitudes towards institutional leadership; in the matrimonial sphere, there is a transition to strategic pragmatism, expressed in the calculation of the costs of having many children and a reduction in the orientation towards close intergenerational coalitions; In the spiritual and moral sphere, there is a strategy of moral autonomy and distancing from patriarchal institutions in favor of private self-development. In planning self-preservation behavior, here is a predominance of preventive practices with more modest expectations regarding life expectancy. The main conclusion from the results of the study is that the life strategies of young Russian women are not passive, but represent a rational adaptive compromise that forms a model of “limited agency”. The identified gender gaps are not the cause, but rather the consequence and mechanism of reproduction of structural inequalities. The prospects for transforming the strategies of young women are linked to the destruction of institutional barriers and fundamental reform of the gender order aimed at equalizing opportunities and obligations.

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Congratulations, P. 137

Инна Кодина — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:36:31 +0000

The Editorial Board and Editorial Collaboration of the journal «Woman in Russian Society,» the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences «Demographic Development and Demographic Policy of the Russian Federation,» and the entire professional community heartily congratulate Professor Yulia Zubok on her anniversary!

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