Women and war
Tue, Mar 25
|Berlin
Women and War: How the war against Ukraine is changing the position of women in Russia. Discussion and letter-writing campaign in favor of female political prisoners in Russia.
Time & Location
Mar 25, 2025, 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Berlin, Haus der Demokratie, Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin, Deutschland
About the event
Under Vladimir Putin's rule, autocracy, imperial nationalism, sexism, and patriarchy (as an integral part of the "traditional values" promoted by the Kremlin) have become key pillars of the regime. These elements manifest in their most brutal form in the aggression against Ukraine.
The regime has weaponized the war to increase pressure on women and vulnerable groups within the country. Women in Russia are expected to conform to the ideal of patriotic femininity, with bearing and raising many children seen as their central duty.
Those who do not fit this image face increasing repression. The LGBTI movement and numerous feminist groups are being criminalized. Women's reproductive rights are being curtailed, ranging from a de facto abortion ban in some regions to draconian penalties nationwide for promoting childlessness. At the same time, domestic violence has been trivialized—since 2017, first-time offenses are no longer considered a criminal act but merely an administrative offense.