Mikola_rus.blog

facts about Russian women

mikolarus — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 19:42:55 +0000

Women at Work.

Women make 46.9% of the employed population in Russia. The greatest proportion of working women are in public health service (85%), education (81%), credit and finance (78%), information and accounting services (75%), whilst the lowest share is in the construction industry (22%).

” As in Soviet times, the majority of working women are trapped in low-wage ghettos, such as medicine, education, and clerical jobs. The difference is that Soviet-era perks, such as accessible day care and child allowances, have evaporated” writes Fred Weir in his article.
The principle of equal pay for equal work is in the constitution but men prevail in leading positions and dominate among well paid experts, so men’s average wage is higher than women’s and it seems to increase even more with time.
There are protective laws prohibiting too hard jobs for women, such as carrying too heavy weights, or working at night. You’ll see many women, though, working in the shops and in the metro past midnight: the law allows ‘temporary’ contracts for such jobs. Pregnant women or women with a child 1 to 3 years of age are strictly forbidden to work at night. When a pregnant woman leaves her job to give birth and look after her child, there is a ‘requirement for a 3 year-paid maternity leave for child care‘. Therefore young women are discriminated when applying for a job.

Women make 45% of the unemployed population. Many women lost their jobs after the end of Soviet Union. Also, like many men, some e ducated women left their jobs themselves (because of lack of proper payment) for other jobs where they don’t put in practice their skills. Some women stopped working and stayed at home, some women became alcoholics.
The age for pension is 55 years old for women, and 60 for men. However State pensions are usually 1500 R/month (50$) which is barely enough to eat for one month. Consequently many old women find little jobs to earn a bit more.

Wedding, Russian Surname. The legal marrying age is 18 years old for both men and women, but it is possible under some special circumstances for a girl to marry at 16 of age.
Property acquired by spouses during marriage is their joint property, unless stipulated differently in a contract between spouses.

The spouses can share their surnames after the wedding. The husband can take the surname of his wife or vice-versa.The surname of a man is feminised with the suffix -a to become a woman’s surname: for example if the husband is called Smirnof, the wife can change her surname to Smirnova. The spouses can also keep their original names. After divorce names can be kept or recovered.
In Russia, children are usually given a name, and a patronymic (derived from the name of their father). For example Anna has a father called Petr Pushkin, she will be called Anna Petrovna Pushkina. Her brother will be called Stepan Petrovitch Pushkin. People use more often their patronymics than their surname to present themselves in official meetings.

Family Planning. Contraceptives and hormone containing remedies are relatively expensive in Russia as the monthly average income salary is 1500 R (54$) and a condom costs around 9 R (0,3$) and pills between 50 and 300 R (1,8 and 10$).
In Russia, abortion still remains the main method of birth control. Abortion is legally permitted under the following instances: at a woman’s request within the 12th week of pregnancy; within 22 weeks if there are social conditions under which pregnancy, child birth and child rearing would become a heavy burden for a woman; and at any time if it is established that pregnancy could harm the health of the mother or the child.
Russia’s abortion rate is one of the highest in the world. For every 100 births there are approximately 200 abortions.
Due to the lack of funds in the public health services it is not always possible for a woman to have an abortion ‘at her own will’ free of charge. An abortion costs 5$ in rural regions and 50$ in Moscow.
Programs of family planning were applied between 1992 and 1996, making the number of abortions decline by 25% . But in the following years, there were less or no funds put in the programs, because of pressures mainly by religious groups, and the percentage of abortions raised again. Sexual education is given since 1996 in schools in Moscow and St Pet but not in every establishment.

Taxis in Russia

mikolarus — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:22:37 +0000

There are other tips about using taxis in Russia. First of all, negotiate all fares before you get into taxis. If you speak Russian, the fare will be lower. If your lady friend speaks Russian, have her negotiate the taxi rate before you get in.

Do not assume she knows that she should negotiate the rate beforehand. Ask her to do this for you. The same tip applies to baggage handlers. Negotiate the rate up front.

Do not get into taxis that have another person than the driver in them, unless of course, they are someone you know. You may get robbed and abandoned.

Travel within Russia by train tips

mikolarus — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:21:16 +0000

Romantic and un-Western, train travel will give you glimpses of rural countryside as you sip tea made from the samovar. You can watch untouched terrain slip by and not see any signs of humanity for hours. The rhythm from the tracks is comforting as you play cards with your traveling companions or read a book. Train travel is great because you are immersed in Russian culture . . . without having to extend any extra effort.

Tips for travellers to Russia #4

mikolarus — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:18:57 +0000

Visas for Travel to Russia
First of all, plan to apply for your visa well in advance of your trip through an embassy located in your country of residence. You will need an invitation (issued by the hotel at which you plan to stay or through a travel agent), and you can use this invitation to apply for your visa. Sound complicated? This system has become much more relaxed in the past few years, so grin and bear it.
Registering Upon Arrival to Russia

Tips for travellers to Russia #3

mikolarus — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:09:05 +0000

Russia is a unique and amazing country. Having lived there for a year, I can tell you it is like nothing you will experience in Europe or anywhere else. The culture is entirely different as is the language. The language, in particular, is the first hurdle you will face.

The Russian language is based on the Cyrillic Alphabet. From the sound of individual letters to their combined essence, everything is different than what you are used to. If you try to wing it, you are going to be in for big trouble. To help you out, here are some basic words and phrases you should know.

The first phrase I mastered while in Russia was “ya ne gavaru puruski.” This phonetic mess can be translated to “I don’t speak Russian.” Trust me, you should learn this. I became so good at ripping it off that many people thought I actually spoke Russian, but was just being a jerk!

Tips for travellers to Russia #2

mikolarus — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:07:40 +0000

Many reasons might come upon your mind to decide to move back to your home country. Homesick – likely. Love interest – likely. Relatives – likely. Friends – likely. Seeking adventure? Most likely…
Here are a few tips for Russians whose heart still beats for Russia and who has decided to move back to Russia… 1. Make sure you stay away from Rublevka – go party there, but leave the place after dark, if you want to keep some dignity.

Tips for travellers to Russia #1

mikolarus — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:04:44 +0000

Areas of Instability. Due to continued civil and political unrest throughout most of the Caucasus region of Russia, the Department of State warns U.S. citizens and all other persons against travel to the areas of Chechnya, all areas bordering Chechnya, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Stavropol, Karachayevo-Cherkessiya and Kabardino-Balkariya, Bobruysk, Moscow and all other cities without personal guide. United States Government personnel are prohibited from traveling to these areas and American citizens residing in these areas should depart immediately as the safety of Americans and other foreigners cannot be effectively guaranteed. Throughout the region, local criminal gangs routinely kidnap, rape and make other terrible things with foreigners, especially Americans. U.S. citizens have disappeared in Chechnya and remain unaccounted for. In December 1998, four foreign hostages were decapitated by their captors. Close contacts with the local population do not guarantee safety. The U.S. Government’s ability to assist Americans who travel to the Northern Caucasus is extremely limited.

Old soviet cameras review

mikolarus — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 22:12:28 +0000

Digital pictures sticked the world VS pictures taken by “Moskva 2″ or “Kiev 88″ is the same as “Toyota corolla” VS “Saab” of 40th. As Dima Bilan VS Vladimir Visotsky, H&M VS marrige dress from grandmother’s trunk. Soviet cameras is a Lo-Fi in the best meaning of this word. Human technic with all disadvantages, crafted without any computer technologies and prooved on Second Civil War, on the Noth Ice Ocean, “Mosfilm” angars. With Soviet cameras you can do effects, wich are trying to imitate in Photoshop by best minds of Silicon Valley. People who will try to use such a vintage will be rewarded: get the real dog against the electronic “Aibo”.