Annually, on March 8, the world celebrates International Women's Day. In Russia, this holiday has been an official non-working day since 1966. Initially, International Women's Day was dedicated to the fight for women's rights, particularly for workplace equality.
By the 1930s and 1940s, women in Russia already had access to various technical careers that were previously considered male-dominated. For reference, in 1871, there were only six such professions, but women continued to advocate for more opportunities.
Nevertheless, some limitations existed that were designed to preserve the health of female workers. In 1940, the list of professions banned for women included 56 items, and in 1978, the list was expanded to 431 items. Such changes were prompted by the advancement of technologies and the emergence of new special equipment.
For 43 years, the number of occupations banned for women remained almost unchanged, and in 2021, a decree by the Russian government on the approval of a new list came into force. The number of bans was reduced to 100. Nowadays, women have access to such roles as truck driver, electric train driver, deck crew member, etc.
Restrictions on women's labor exist not only in Russia, but also, for example, in Belarus, Tajikistan, China, and India.
For more information about women's labor in Russia and the world – see TASS infographic.