The gender-role revolution in the Russian mind has already happened. Now everything depends on human behavior which is likely to be traditional.

MOSCOW, March 6, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study devoted to International Women’s day.

Russians advocate for equality in the family in theory and practice: 82% of all respondents think that equality is important; 72% of married/cohabitating/dating couples say that in practice they make decisions jointly (since 2009 this percentage has doubled). Those who think that only one person can be the head say that this person should be male (16% say that things should be this way; 21% that this is true for their relationship) rather than female (1% and 6, respectively).

Nominal equality is reported across all family duties, and this is broadly proven in practice. Joint activities mentioned by couples involve leisure activities (Gender Equality Index* is 86 p.), grocery shopping (84 p.), presents for friends (85 p.) and doing lessons with children (72 p.) et cet.

Strictly female duty is (or which is considered normal) doing the laundry; purely male duty is small home repairs (based on respondents’ personal experience, 72% of women do the laundry and 67% of men make home repairs in their families). At the same time, certain duties are distributed in a traditional way: couples recognize that female duties involve not only laundry but also ironing, cooking and cleaning. However, in recent years the “we do it jointly” response has had positive dynamics. 

In most of families (61%) men and women are equally responsible for the financial provision (Index is 80 p.); the budget is managed in the same way (59% and 79 p. respectively). On average, men tend to consider that women are responsible for one-third of the budget income (32%) while women point to 43%. Men in relationships (married/cohabitating/dating) say that their contribution to the family income is approximately75%; women mention 44%.  

*Gender Equality Index shows to what extent the family responsibilities are distributed between men and women within a household. The higher the Index value is, the higher the level of equality is. The Index is calculated as the sum of answers to the question: “How are the following duties distributed within your family/couple?”; if the answer is “jointly, the coefficient is “1”; “man or woman” – “0.5”; the other answers gain 0. The Index is measured in points between 50 and 100.  

The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on February 28 - March 1, 2018. The survey involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

The 2009 and 2011 results are based on household surveys

*In 2011, the question was addressed only to those who were legally married 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.