Sexuality and Gender in Postcommunist Eastern Europe and Russia

by Coleman; Edmond J

• ISBN13: 9780789022943
• ISBN10: 078902294X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2004-11-24
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Important new findings on sex and gender in the former Soviet Bloc! Sexuality and Gender in Postcommunist Eastern Europe and Russia is a groundbreaking look at the new sexual reality in Central, Eastern, and Southeast Europe after the fall of communism. The book presents the kind of candid discussion of sexual identities, sexual politics, and gender arrangements that was often censored and rarely discussed openly before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1987. Authors from a variety of disciplines examine how the changes caused by rapid economic and social transformation have affected human sexuality and if those changes can generate the social tolerance necessary to produce a well-rooted democracy. The first theoretical and empirical body of work to sexuality in (post)transitional countries, Sexuality and Gender in Postcommunist Eastern Europe and Russia examines the effects of the profound social transformation taking place in the former Soviet Union. Through an interdisciplinary perspective, the book addresses vital issues of this transformation, including gender relations, gender roles and sex norms in transition, sexual representations in the media, patterns of adult sexual behavior, gay and lesbian issues, sex trafficking, health risks, and sex education. The book also presents a critical examination of whether the fall of communism has, in fact, induced changes in sexuality and gender relations. Sexuality and Gender in Postcommunist Eastern Europe and Russia examines the changes in sex and gender in countries in transition, including: the negative consequences of Serbia's state-directed non-development” during the 1990s the causes and consequences of trafficking in women from the Russian Federation the ongoing debate over human rights for sexual minorities in Romania the effects of two Yugoslavian films released in the 1990s that feature transgender characters sexualities in transition in Croatia problems created by changes in sexual behavior among urban Russian adolescents the social and legal state of lesbians in Slovenia Sexuality and Gender in Postcommunist Eastern Europe and Russia fills in the gap in the current knowledge and understanding of the effects of the profound social changes taking place in Central, Eastern, and Southeast Europe. The book is an essential read for academics and researchers working in gender studies, political science, and gay and lesbian studies. Handy tables and figures make the information easy to access and understand.

Table of Contents

About the Editors	xi
Contributors	xiii
Foreword	xix
Acknowledgments	xxi
Introduction: Sexuality and Gender in Times of Transition	1	(28)
Aleksandar Štulhofer
Theo Sandfort
Changing the Gender Order	4	(1)
Changing Social Regulation of Sexuality	5	(5)
Sexualities in Postcommunism	10	(6)
The Contributions	16	(13)
PART I: POSTCOMMUNIST CONSTRUCTIONS OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY
Chapter 1. Gender Inequalities in a Nationalist, Nontransitional Context in Serbia, Emphasizing Vojvodina, During the 1990's	29	(28)
Tatjana Duric-Kuzmanovic
Introduction	29	(1)
A Gendered Approach to Theories of Development and Transition	30	(3)
General Economic and Social Conditions in Serbia During the 1990's	33	(3)
Gender Oppression in Serbia: From Socialism to State-Directed Nondevelopment	36	(5)
Current Developments and Future Trends in the Labor Market for Women During Transition in Serbia, Emphasizing Vojvodina	41	(3)
Summary: Toward Affirmative Action	44	(13)
Chapter 2. Hierarchies of Difference: National Identity, Gay and Lesbian Rights, and the Church in Postcommunist Romania	57	(22)
Voichita Nachescu
Gender and Romanian Communism	59	(2)
Brief History	61	(1)
The Actors of the Debate	62	(8)
The Debate	70	(4)
Conclusion	74	(5)
Chapter 3. From Sworn Virgins to Transvestite Prostitutes: Performing Gender and Sexuality in Two Films from Yugoslavia	79	(16)
Kevin Moss
Chapter 4. The Spatiality of Identities and Sexualities: Is "Transition" a Challenging Point at All?	95	(16)
Biljana Kašic
Introductory Notes: Facing the Question	95	(1)
Facing the Approach and Problem That Sexuality Matters	96	(1)
Facing Transition and War(s): Stereotypes, Trends, and Media Signifiers of Sexualities	97	(3)
Facing Female Sexuality Within the Pornography of War(s)	100	(2)
Instead of a Conclusion: Facing Obstacles, Gaps, and Potentials Within/Crossing "Transition"	102	(9)
PART II: SEXUAL POLITICS AND SEXUAL IDENTITIES
Chapter 5. Sexual Culture and Politics in Contemporary Russia	111	(14)
Igor S. Kon
Post-Soviet Sexuality	111	(2)
Attitudes Toward Sex Education	113	(2)
The Antisexual Crusade	115	(10)
Chapter 6. Serbian Sexual Response: Gender and Sexuality in Serbia During the 1990's	125	(24)
Tea Nikolic
Excitement (The Awakening of the Nation)	126	(6)
Plateau (Turbo Folk)	132	(3)
Orgasm (Pornography)	135	(5)
Resolution	140	(9)
Chapter 7. The Social Status of Lesbian Women in Slovenia in the 1990's	149	(22)
Tatjana Greif
Introduction	149	(1)
Historical Background	150	(1)
The Lesbian Movement in Slovenia	150	(1)
The Current Legal Situation Concerning Lesbian Women	151	(4)
Lesbians Within Education, the Health System, and the Military	155	(1)
The Social Situation Concerning Lesbian Women	156	(7)
Conclusion	163	(8)
Chapter 8. Sexualities in Belarus: Some Major Patterns of Sexual Behavior and Their Cultural Background	171	(22)
Alexei Lalo
Nikolai Schitov
Introduction	171	(1)
Gender Roles and Images	172	(5)
Sexualities and "Witch Hunts"	177	(2)
Post-Soviet Sexual Discourses and Western Influences	179	(3)
Issues of Domestic Violence: The Controversial Role of Physicians	182	(5)
Sex-Related Prejudice and Sex Crimes: The Orthodox Church and Homophobia	187	(2)
Conclusion	189	(4)
Chapter 9. The New Visibility: Representing Sexual Minorities in the Popular Culture of Post-Soviet Russia	193	(16)
Brian James Baer
PART III: THE RISE OF SEX MARKETS
Chapter 10. Supplying Women for the Sex Industry: Trafficking from the Russian Federation	209	(22)
Donna M. Hughes
Introduction	209	(1)
Collapse and Criminalization of the State and Economy	210	(3)
Economic Inequality for Women	213	(2)
Regional Variation in Unemployment	215	(2)
Traffickers Recruiting Women for Work Abroad	217	(3)
Public and Private Violence Against Women	220	(3)
Western Glamour and the Sex Industry	223	(3)
Conclusion	226	(5)
Chapter 11. Russian Mail-Order Brides in U.S. Public Discourse: Sex, Crime, and Cultural Stereotypes	231	(12)
Tatiana Osipovich
Male Fantasy and the Internet: Marketing the Image of the Beautiful Russian Woman Who Loves Her American Man	232	(1)
Academic Feminist Discourse: Romance, Trafficking, and Abuse	233	(3)
Popular Discourse: Young Victims, Ugly Losers, and Grieving Parents	236	(2)
Legal Discourse: Immigration Fraud, Unregulated Industry, and Domestic Violence	238	(5)
Chapter 12. Sexuality for Whom? Paid Sex and Patriarchy in Russia	243	(20)
Natalia Khodyreva
Research Methods	244	(1)
Debates About Prostitution	244	(2)
Study of Prostitution	246	(1)
The Interviews	247	(10)
Strengthening Patriarchal Gender Relations	257	(6)
PART IV: SEXUAL PLEASURES AND RISKS
Chapter 13. The Subjective Meanings of Sex and Sexual Satisfaction Among More Active Young Adults in Slovakia	263	(34)
Marianna Supeková
Gabriel Bianchi
Miroslav Popper
Ivan Lukšik
Roger Ingham
Introduction and Background	263	(2)
Subjective Meanings of Sex	265	(1)
Defining Sexual Satisfaction	265	(2)
The Study	267	(16)
Discussion and Conclusion	283	(3)
Appendix: Case Studies	286	(11)
Chapter 14. How Did It Happen the First Time? Sexual Initiation of Secondary School Students in Seven Postsocialist Countries	297	(20)
Ivan Bernik
Valentina Hlebec
Patterns of Youth Sexual Behavior in Postsocialist Societies: Some Hypotheses	297	(3)
First Sexual Intercourse: Differences Among Seven Countries	300	(3)
First Sexual Intercourse As Gendered Experience	303	(8)
Conclusion: Postsocialist Patterns of Adolescent Sexuality?	311	(6)
Chapter 15. Contradictory Trends in Sexual Life in St. Petersburg, Estonia, and Finland	317	(48)
Elina Haavio-Mannila
Anna Rotkirch
Osmo Kontula
Background	317	(2)
Research Materials	319	(1)
Three Dimensions of Sexuality	320	(7)
Procreational Sexuality	327	(16)
Recreational Sexuality	343	(2)
Relational Sexuality	345	(11)
Summary of the Findings	356	(2)
Discussion	358	(7)
Chapter 16. The Social Context of Sexual Health Among Young People in Slovakia: Comparisons with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands	365	(26)
Miroslav Popper
Gabriel Bianchi
Ivan Lukšik
Marianna Supeková
Roger Ingham
Introduction	365	(3)
Epistemological and Methodological Approach	368	(4)
Results	372	(13)
Discussion and Recommendations	385	(6)
Index	391