Communism, the Cold War, and the space race. These are just a few of the things that might come to mind when you hear about the Soviet Union. A lesser-known feat of the former Eurasian territory? The ‘Mother Heroine’ title – an award bestowed upon women with 10 or more children – which VladimirPutin is bringing back.
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Why?
Russia’s population is shrinking, and Putin is worried. The accolade - which dates back to 1944 -is meant to incentivize Russian families to procreate. It offers women who bear at least 10 children financial and healthcare benefits in return for being a ‘good’ citizen. This time around, the prize is set at the Russian equivalent of $16,500, to be awarded after the 10th child’s 1st birthday under the condition that all children remain alive.
When the medal was originally established by Stalin, the Soviet Union was preparing for postwar reconstruction. Their pro-natalist approach was meant to replenish the portion of the population lost during World War II.
Associate professor at UCL, Kristin Roth-Ey, told The Washington Post:
The war led to high anxiety about population loss…It has resonances obviously with what is going on right now
Echoes of the past
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, around 45,000 Russian soldiers have been injured, according to CIA estimates cited in ABC News. An additional 15,000 are thought to be dead. Population growth is needed in order for Russia to maintain their military and political force, and Putin probably knows it.
The act of motherhood, therefore, is celebrated as ‘a service to the motherland’, in the words of Roth-Ey.
Cold War Correspondents author, Dina Fainberg, agrees that the medal of honor is symbolic of a ‘drive toward state-led patriotism’ resembling past Stalinist priorities.
With no end in sight for the Ukraine war, will Russia see a new baby boom?
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