Family Institution in Russia: on the Path of Transformation

Abstract

The article is focused on the analysis of institute of family in modem Russia. During the socio­demographic modernization family stays a terminal value for Russians, but goes through transformation with erosion of traditional norms and relationship patterns in this sphere. Based on the analysis of empirical data the paper shows the changes in the attitude of Russians to marriage, parenthood, gender roles. The author demonstrates that family and children are included in so-called “vital program” that Russians are trying to implement. Herewith the pragmatization of attitude towards family is observed, and family development often seems to be functional. On the one hand, this leads to a weakening of the role of emotional factors in this area, on the other hand, it stimulates the appearance of new formats and types of relationships. This involves either changes in the forms of marriage, number of children in the family, age of Russians facing certain stages of family life-circle, or dynamics of gender roles, variations of which are becoming increasingly diverse. The author notes that children in the family remain the social norm, and the requirements that are applied to men and women performing the roles of husband and wife, despite of their pluralization, do not go through drastic changes and stay traditional (man-breadwinner and wife-housekeeper). That is why she concludes that fundamentals of the value system of Russians regulating family relations remain unchanged. The most likely localization of its erosion in the future seems to be among young people and inhabitants of mega-cities.

Keywords

• family as an institute
• socio-demographic modernization
• parenthood
• marriage
• gender roles