| Abstract [eng] |
Object of the Study: The image of women in Russian cinema during the Soviet, post-Soviet, and contemporary periods.
Research Problem: The status of women in Russia has evolved alongside political, economic, and cultural transformations. One of the main cultural domains where these shifts are reflected is cinema, which in Russia has always served not only as an artistic medium but also as an ideological platform, shaping public identity and value orientations. Therefore, the portrayal of women in film is not incidental, it mirrors the dominant social, political, and cultural discourses of the time.
Aim of the Research: To analyse how the representation of women in Russian cinema has changed from the Soviet era to the present day. Research Objectives: 1. To analyse the depiction of women in Soviet cinema – to identify the main gender roles in Soviet films and how these were constructed in accordance with official ideology. 2. To examine the portrayal of women in post-Soviet cinema, to investigate how the transition from the Soviet regime to a market economy was reflected in cinematic narratives and its impact on female representation. 3. To evaluate the depiction of women in contemporary Russian cinema (2006–2025), to determine the prevailing trends in current films, and to assess whether they contribute to the promotion of gender equality or reinforce stereotypes. 4. To identify key gender stereotypes in Russian cinema across different periods, and to determine how women’s social, political, and economic roles have changed within film narratives. Research Hypothesis: Although the portrayal of women in cinema initially shifted in the direction of emancipation after the collapse of the Soviet Union, recent years have seen a conservative turn and a return to traditional female roles. Methodology: Content and visual analysis were employed. A total of nine films (three from each period) were selected and analysed using eight coding categories (social role, sexualisation, family, professional activity, etc.). Key Findings: Soviet cinema portrayed women as collective heroines - hardworking, responsible, and ideologically loyal. In post-Soviet cinema, women appear as marginalised, sexualised, and vulnerable figures – victims of the neoliberal crisis. Contemporary films are dominated by symbolically hollow, traumatised, or metaphysically distanced female characters – women’s agency is diminishing, and their voice weakens both visually and ideologically. Cinema becomes a mirror of societal change: the less power women hold in reality, the more their image in film fades or becomes abstract. Significance of the Study: This research reveals how cinema not only reflects women’s status in society but also actively contributes to the normalisation or questioning of that position. The analysis is significant in the context of both gender studies and contemporary Russian political culture research. |
