Soviet Women’s Rights

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29747, 14 February 1962, Page 2

Soviet Women’s Rights

The tremendous role of Soviet women in their country’s political, economic, cultural and public life is shown in a statistical survey entitled “Women In The U.5.5.R.,” published in Moscow.

In the medical profession, for instance, 75 per cent of the doctors were women in 1958, the last year shown in the survey.

The Soviet constitution guaranteed women equal rights with men to work, rest and leisure, equal payment for work, social insurance and education, according to the book, which is produced by the Central Statistical Board of the Council of Ministers of the UJSS.R. The census of January 15. 1959, showed that 55 per cent, of the total population in the Soviet Union were women. This proportion of men and women derived from the ratio of older age groups and was the result of wars—World War n in particular. The male population under 32 slightly exceeded the number of women in the same census.

In its concern for women the State protected the interests of mothers and children, aided mothers of large families and unmarried mothers: it accorded working mothers paid maternity leave.

Exercising their right to work in all sections of the national economy, women made up 47 per cent, of the industrial, office or other workers. Almost half of the people in state and economic administration and in the management of co-operative and public organisations were women. They made up 63 per cent, in education and science. 85 per cent, in public health. Seventy per cent, of the teachers in elementary, seven-year and secondary schools, including heads of schools, were women, the survey showed. Qualifications

Widespread employment of women in production had been made possible through the immense development of mechanisation and automation. which lightened human labour and put an end to heavy physical work.

Other factors that had made this possible were the higher cultural level and production qualifications of women, the basic improvements in the working conditions of all and especially of women. The measures that had been taken to emancipate the housewife, such as the establishment ot huge networks of dining-rooms, nurseries. kindergartens, playgrounds and boardingschools, were also contributing factors in enabling women to go to work. In Science In 1950, 36 per cent, of the number of scientific workers were women. Twentyseven per cent, of the scientific workers holding degrees were women. Altogether, half of the executives and specialists in the UJS.S.R. economy were women. Side by side with men, Soviet women took an active

part in the administration of the state and in the country's political and public life, an introduction to the survey said. When ill, all workers received temporary disability allowances until they had fully regained their capacity for work, as well as free medical attention. These disability allowances amounted to 90 per cent, of the wage. When temporary disability was caused by injury sustained at the place of work or by occupational disease, the allowance was 100 per cent, of the wage. Pensions

Women became eligible for pensions five years earlier than men and with a shorter record of service. For women the pension age had been set at 55. Additional benefits for age and record of service had been instituted for mothers of five or more children, whom they had brought up to the age of eight. These women were eligible for a pension at the age of 50. In addition to regular annual leaves, women industrial. office and other workers received a paid maternity leave of 112 calendar days and this was extended in the case of two or more children born, or in the case of pathological labour. Women collective farmers were released from work a month before and a month after childbirth. For these two months they were paid half of their earnings. No charge is taken in the US.S.R. for medical attention for women during childbirth. Child allowances were paid to unmarried as well as married mothers, the publication says.