ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines a variety of aspects of Soviet everyday life as recorded in a broad selection of women’s narratives and reflective writings. It focuses on what the various women’s narrative sources themselves reveal about Soviet women’s everyday lives: their daily routines and activities; their life ambitions; and their attitudes and behaviours in relation to the topics under review. The book discusses the clear gap between private attitudes and practices on one side and public proclamations and behaviours on the other. Although many of them may have had extensive experience and knowledge of life outside of the Russian Republic itself, their outlook and behaviours were undoubtedly shaped by their more privileged status within Soviet society and by the legacy of the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.
