Refusal of motherhood as a life project: On Russian women’s attitudes at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries

Abstract

Basing en the analysis of the ego-documents and medical statistics data the author explores the phenomenon of refusal of motherhood that arose among the Russian female aristocracy in the beginning of the XX century. Neglect of the traditional female roles determined by nature was caused by the transformation of gender system in society. This phenomenon was widespread not only among the ladies in the capital cities, but in the province as well. By refusing maternity women did construct their own self, striving to find their own gender identity outside the traditional female roles, determined by biology.