A Comparison of the Aims of Public Policy with Women's Views on Declining Fertility Rates in Post-Soviet Russia

The article compares an analysis of Russian federal policy documents enacted to address the decline in population size (apparent since the collapse of the former Soviet Union), with interviews of women living in two provincial capitals, Pskov and Velikiye Novgorod. The analysis indicates that the values reflected in state policy documents regarding the definition of the problem, the stated goals of family policy and the methods designated to achieve those goals are not consistent with the views and understandings of women representative of those targeted by state family policy, on the nature of the problem, the goals that they think most important to achieve, and the most effective means to accomplish them. Policies to promote greater gender equality and to provide quality secondary education are perceived to be essential pre-conditions to reverse population declines.