Most Russians Believe Women's Place Is at Home

MOSCOW, March 7 (The Moscow News) – A woman's place is in the home, not running around trying to forge a career.

At least that is what an overwhelming number of Russians believe, according to a poll published Friday, on the eve of International Women's Day.

"When there's a choice between a career and family, a woman should give her preference to the home and family, and work should be placed on the back burner, according to 72 percent of Russians," said the All-Russian Center for Public Opinion Research, or VTsIOM, citing a recent survey.

Only 20 percent of those polled said they would suggest their wife or girlfriend spend more time on her career than on the family.

In the breakdown of the statistics, villagers – of whom 76 percent said women should focus on their family – and the elderly (77 percent) most commonly expressed patriarchal views.

The country's two largest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, are only slightly more progressive, with 62 percent of respondents in both places asserting the importance of family and home over a career.

VTsIOM's survey was conducted at the beginning of March among 1,600 respondents in 130 populated areas with a margin of error of 3.4 percent. No statistics were revealed on the sex of the respondents.