Participants

Discussion

This roundtable explores themes of femininity and feminism in pro-war culture in Russia in the context of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Gender issues play a significant role in contemporary Russian media propaganda. The discursive support for the war often involves distinguishing ‘women’ and ‘men’ from ‘all Russians.’ Propagandists emphasize the socio-cultural and biological roles of women, expecting them to sustain daily routines, normalize the war within society, and assist in recruiting manpower for the front. The promotion of ultra-conservative views and behaviors among women aligns with the Russian state’s active biopolitics, which seeks to control bodies, families, and reproduction within society. At the same time, propagandists often voice ideas that, at first glance, may seem feminist and contradict the "traditional values" promoted by the Russian authorities. This work is often carried out by women—z-bloggers, war correspondents, representatives of creative industries, etc.

This roundtable will examine issues such as the discourses and representations of femininity in media supporting the Russian authorities; ‘z-feminism,’ which promotes the necessity of war; the appropriation of the ‘women's topics’ by pro-war propagandists; and the connections between pro-war discourses in popular and intellectual culture.