The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian...

International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union.

     


                                

              

Pages: 1

Myths (and misconceptions) about Russian women...

(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)


Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone...

I thought that since Tasha (aqua) opened up the topic of myths about Russian men, I thought it would be equally important and beneficial to open a thread about the myths that are held about Russian women.

It would be wonderful to hear from both men and women about what you believe are the currently held myths and misconceptions about Russian women.

I look forward to reading your thoughts and comments (and I will post my thoughts as well),

Khashyar



Posted by: rimennel

After a little thought I think most of my misconceptions about the former USSR is from the cold war media and of course school. One picture of a Russian woman in my 8th grade social studies book (IT is still in my mind today!) Is this black and white picture of a large woman of at least 300 lbs. with the scariest scowl on her face, holding what looked like bread roller pin in one hand. Actually it kinda looked like Bresnev(sp) in womens clothes.
Also from movies from the 70's and earlier I cannot think of one positive Russian character. They were all ugly or stupid...or both and of course evil. But at the moment the only movie I can think of is "Patton" with George C. Scott. In one scene where Patton refuses to drink a toast with the Russian General. The Russian General was short, pudgy, and far less witty than Patton. The female Russian soldiers in the background were not charasmatic at all.
I think the Stereotypes are disappearing with theend of the Cold War, internet and etc....I know my perceptions have changed.

Richard



Posted by: Woody

So much of what we grew up with was seen on the television and in the movies.
The large Russian shot putter taking part in the Olympic games. In Ian Fleming's "From Russia With Love" there was the character Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya). A toad-like woman, masculine in appearance but a superb character with an evil tinge.
Not very pretty and characters easily applied with the tag of undesirable in those distant days.

Clive



Posted by: Khashyar

You mean that Russian women do hot have hairy armpit?

It's great to read about everyone's ideas of myths about Russian women....

I think that the internet and many marriage agencies encourage misconceptions about Russian women....

Here are some of the myths that I can think of off hand:

1) That Russian women are somehow more sexual than other women I think that sexuality varies from person to person in every country.... Advertising Russian women's sexuality would certainly sell contact addresses at marriage agencies

(I'm trying to think about myths that I believed that I found to be untrue after meeting Lena....)

2) I guess we are told over and over again at how Russian women want to be housewives, and that they will just do our every bidding once they come to our countries and live in such better conditions I think that the myth that Russian women are somehow passive is prevalent in the media.

3) I think that it is also a myth that ALL Russia women like to cook (two of Lena's Russian friends here in L.A. absolutely hate to cook-- in fact, their husbands do more cooking than they do ) But, I think that it is generally true that most Russian women have experience cooking.

4) This next "myth" is more of a false way of looking at a Russian woman that I think is VERY prevalent in the general populaton. I think that many men truly look at "Russian women" not as unique individuals, but as attractive and sexy objects that will somehow meet all or most of their needs.... It seems to me that many men have some level of expectation that a Russian wife will meet all of their needs, or will fulfill a void that they feel or think they have. I think that the same (or very similar) rules of a successful marriage and relationship that apply to Western marriages also apply to making a Russian-Western marriage survive. We need more respect of individual partners rather than stereotypes....

5) I think another myth that might be commonly believed is that you can get to know someone accurately and fall in love over the internet.... I think it is easy to fall in love with who you imagine the other person to be, rather than what they are like on an every day basis.... I even thought that I knew my wife Lena pretty well (we had very deep email and phone discussions before marriage), but.... I am finding that I certainly have gotten to know Lena in a deeper and more real way having lived with her for over 6 months I have learned a lot about her even though I spend 7 weeks with her in Belarus last summer, as well as having written emails back and forth with her every day for several months before she moved to the U.S.... It is easy for your imagination to fill in what you don't know about someone you are involved with over a long distance with what it ideally wants in a partner

I will try to write some more of my ideas about myths about Russian women later...

Khashyar



Russian America Top. Рейтинг ресурсов Русской Америки. Рейтинг@Mail.ru Russian Network USA



Russian Meeting Place Copyright ©2000 - 2008, www.russianmeetingplace.com and Khahsyar and Lena.