Oksana OkinshinaThe 2002 census final results are out. 50% of Moscow residents are living their lives in solitude; many still dream of finding a significant other; Russia has 1,147 women for every 1,000 men. While in the early 1990s people married at 21 or 22, these days it’s 23 for her and 25 for him.
Natalia Markova of the Institute for Socio-Economic Problems of Population said today 78% of Moscow residents back the idea of living in an unmarried partnership, 10% shun any commitments and favour free love and only 12% are for building a traditional family.
Men are fewer and fear they will not be able to support their families. Emancipation is flourishing and the woman thinks first and foremost of her career — again out of fear of being left penniless. The higher is her income the tougher are her requirements.
Many people have affairs at work and psychologist Yelena Golunova says that some 70% of Muscovites do not object to getting acquainted on the street or in public transport. Finding a wife or a husband through a marriage agency in Moscow costs $500 to $1,500.
An informal poll of about 50 girls aged 19 and 20 by yours truly reveals the story to be a little different. Most would marry tomorrow if the circumstances were right but it’s the main chance that the eyes are on and if that means waiting, then so be it. Most find the Russian boys the most attractive but that they don’t offer much else and don’t treat the girls with respect.
It would be interesting to compare that with the west.
From what I've read, the Russian men are very abusive towards their women. I bet they love the Englishmen!
ReplyDeleteWell, you know, Ellee, they do and they don't. Initially, of course, the Englishman wreaks havoc as you suggest and it's rather nice, thank you. But then one discovers something else - the majority are quite direct and like their ... er ... relations more physical and straight to the point, shall we say? And the Russian man does wham bam to perfection. And he is a charmer in his own dissolute way and the more correct Englishman then pales a little, especially if he's no spring chicken any more. He still does well but in the final analysis, he's not really the rival he'd hoped to be. Of course, if one is happy with just the one lady, then all the preceding is irrelevant anyway.
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