The “Gilded Cage”: Cold War Propaganda and Women in the US and USSR
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Mentor Information
Dr. Raheleh Dayerizadeh
Description
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Western and Eastern blocs, led by the US and USSR respectively, between 1945 and 1991. Characterized by proxy wars, advancements in nuclear weaponry, and technological competition, this was also a period where indirect warfare, such as intensive propaganda and ideological rivalry, largely shaped the global political environment. At the forefront of such propaganda were often women. Emerging from World War 2 with newly gained job experience and a sense of duty to more than their home and family, women became an effective tool for either state to use in the media to promote their ideological values while criticizing the other. My research delved into the specifics of how women’s lives were presented in propaganda by either side of the Cold War, and how much this imagery differed from their reality. This is a historical analysis where the results are based on eyewitness accounts and the experiences of women on both sides. I found that despite ideological differences, women on both sides shared a lot of similarities: They were burdened with the home, lacked respect from their partners, and at the same time were devoted to their country. This research is still relevant to this day, when we don’t seem to be learning from history and gender equality has regressed on many levels.
The “Gilded Cage”: Cold War Propaganda and Women in the US and USSR
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Western and Eastern blocs, led by the US and USSR respectively, between 1945 and 1991. Characterized by proxy wars, advancements in nuclear weaponry, and technological competition, this was also a period where indirect warfare, such as intensive propaganda and ideological rivalry, largely shaped the global political environment. At the forefront of such propaganda were often women. Emerging from World War 2 with newly gained job experience and a sense of duty to more than their home and family, women became an effective tool for either state to use in the media to promote their ideological values while criticizing the other. My research delved into the specifics of how women’s lives were presented in propaganda by either side of the Cold War, and how much this imagery differed from their reality. This is a historical analysis where the results are based on eyewitness accounts and the experiences of women on both sides. I found that despite ideological differences, women on both sides shared a lot of similarities: They were burdened with the home, lacked respect from their partners, and at the same time were devoted to their country. This research is still relevant to this day, when we don’t seem to be learning from history and gender equality has regressed on many levels.
