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Abortion biggest factor in Russia’s demographic collapse
by Scott Gilbreath ~ March 23rd, 2009
Historian J. Wesley Bush, who blogs at Russian Policy Daily, translates portions of an interview with the head of Russia’s Family and Childhood Foundation. Note the bit on forced abortions (emphasis added).
Chastnyi Korrespondent has an interview with Sveta Rudneva, head of the “Family and Childhood” foundation of Russia. Like many Russians, she’s worried about the demographic decline of Russia. As she rightly points out, abortion is perhaps the biggest factor driving Russia into the demographic ashbin of history.
Asked if she’s seen a spike in abortions since the economic crisis began, Rudneva answered yes, but said that the downturn only exacerbated an existing problem. In her opinion, the high abortion rate is not the result of economics or a lack of benefits, but rather a cultural problem. The current stereotype is that women marry at 22, divorce six years later, and then are left to raise the child without alimony. In such a climate, women are understandably reluctant to have multiple children. Rudneva hopes to see special pro-family television programming which will help “form a correct worldview” in young people of reproductive age.
Perhaps most interesting, she says that “often it is not the woman herself who takes the initiative, but those around her. Often her relatives bring her in almost as if ‘in convoy.’” Domestic violence is even a factor, with blackmail and forced abortions taking place.
Regarding the overall demographics of Russia, she is pessimistic, but believes it is still possible to correct the decline.
h/t: Global Voices
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March 25th, 2009 at 11:32 AM
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