Lesbian Lives in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia: Post/Socialism and Gendered Sexualities

by Francesca Stella

Based on extensive ethnographic research, this book explores the everyday lives of 'lesbian' women in urban Russia. The first part ('time') examines generational differences between women: it shows how the Soviet system shaped understandings and experiences of same-sex desire, and how same-sex identities and communities have been renegotiated since the demise of state socialism. The second part ('space') attends to regional variation in contemporary Russia, by considering what 'lesbian' life looks like in metropolitan Moscow and in the provincial city of Ul'ianovsk. Francesca Stella details how women negotiate their sexualities across different social spaces (the home, the workplace, the street) and explores how 'lesbian' space is collectively carved out.
 
Lesbian Lives in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia queries essentialist accounts of Russian sexualities as exceptional and foregrounds gender as key in shaping women's experiences. The book problematizes western-centric theorizations by critically engaging with existing perspectives on queer geotemporalities, post/socialist modernity and the value of public in/visibility.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction, History, LGBT

201 pages, ebook

First published November 5, 2014

Reviews

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting though not super illuminating look at postsocialism and queer women in Russia

[Sara G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting little overview. It is very clearly (as the author states several times) directed at an outside audience but, if anyone is more interested, the bibliography is full of stuff you could read for further research.
I was struck by just how similar the homophobic attitudes (especially in the family) are to the way people approach homosexuality here, but I guess that was to be expected.