Motherland

Motherland is a compelling work of sociology and social science by award-winning journalist Julia Ioffe. This volume 1 exploration examines the trajectory of modern Russia by focusing on the lived experiences of its women. Ioffe analyzes the shift from the Soviet era, where women served as doctors and engineers, to a contemporary society defined by conservative Christian values and traditional gender roles.

The narrative blends memoir and journalistic history to chronicle the impact of revolution, war, and autocracy. From feminist revolutionaries and World War II soldiers to members of Pussy Riot and Yulia Navalnaya, Motherland documents how the failure of Soviet social experiments paved the way for the leadership of Vladimir Putin. Ioffe provides a detailed portrait of a nation through the women who shaped its identity and navigated its political cataclysms.