On the issue of factors in the dynamics of the gender order of post-Soviet Russia

The factors of the dynamics of the gender order of post-Soviet society are considered, the degree of their significance is specified. The article provides a critical analysis of domestic gender studies, which have a distinctly liberal bias that predetermines the tendentiousness of their proposed conclusions. The central point here is the thesis about the deep crisis of Soviet masculinity, which arose due to an artificial imbalance in the relations between the sexes, violating their naturally formed structure. Referring to secondary empirical research, the authors argue that the Soviet gender order, for all the artificial shifts correctly identified by liberal sociologists, nevertheless preserved traditional structural principles of gender rather than contradicting masculine and feminine identities. Deforming tendencies did manifest themselves within the framework of Soviet masculinity, but they were caused on the one hand by the reverse side of the development of industrial civilization (a general de-aggressive trend, the culture of consumerism), and on the other hand were determined not so much by the peculiarities of the Soviet system, as they had traditional national-historical roots. In addition, the post-Soviet processes of socio-economic polarization took many Russian men by surprise, causing their behavioral marginalization. The author's empirical research revealed that perceptions of Russian youth masculinity are mainly based on traditional foundations, with the values of collectivism and patriotism at the core. This circumstance should be seen as a kind of socio-psycho-logical resource that can act as a domestic advantage in the competition of civilizations, whose peak of aggravation is clearly visible in modern times.