Russian Textbook Says Women's Mini Skirts, Make-Up 'Provoke' Rape

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A Russian high school textbook urging young girls not to "provoke" boys and men by wearing bright makeup and short skirts has surfaced online, according to the Russian news outlet Meduza.

The ninth-grade health and wellness textbook called The Foundations of Life Safety, which outlines various ways for young girls to avoid inciting rape, has gained traction online after excerpts were shared by Russian activist Yekaterina Mizulina on Telegram.

Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for comment via email outside of business hours.

Why It Matters

The fact that The Foundations of Life Safety is widely available and is allegedly being used in Russian schools is significant because it indicates that the culture surrounding sex and gender in Russia places blame on women, rather than men, for sexual violence.

What To Know

A section of the textbook called "Safe Behavior for Girls" details what females should to do to avoid attracting unwanted male attention and what to do in scenarios in which this has occurred. To avoid becoming a victim of violence, The Foundations of Life Safety says, according to a translation by Meduza: "When going to a party, a café, a bar, a concert, any large event, or somewhere with a bad reputation, do not wear very short skirts or paint your lips, eyelids, and eyelashes in wild colors. This provokes boys and men and is perceived by them as a signal."

The textbook also notes that women who are alone with a man "should be prepared for him to develop a desire for intimacy" and notes what women and girls should expect.

"Many conflicts and attacks occur due to the victim's own behavior, signaling through her appearance that she is either 'ripe for it' (being in the wrong place at the wrong time), willing (too available), or defenseless (drunk, scared, aroused, [or] overly trusting)," it says, according to Medusa. "Avoid standing out among others with excessive extravagance."

The Foundations of Life Safety also says that women should not try to "tease and flirt" with men who develop a "desire of intimacy" but "maintain a relaxed demeanor." Another excerpt from the textbook advises women and girls to defend themselves by "leveraging men's psychophysiological traits during sexual intercourse and targeting their vulnerable spots" if they cannot escape.

Student Reading Russian Textbook in School
A student reads a textbook in a school in Russia in November 2022. A Russian textbook has gained attention after excerpts of its lessons on how women should avoid "provoking" men were published on Telegram.... Konstantin Mihalchevskiy/Associated Press

From 2000 to 2021, recorded rape offenses in Russia decreased from their peak in 2005 of 9,200 to 3,450 in 2021 according to Statista. However, reports of rape and sexual assault by Russians have risen since the start of the war in Ukraine as these have allegedly been weaponized by Moscow's forces.

One of the coauthors of the textbook, Sergey Vangorodsky, has said the book is not used as a teaching tool in Russian schools. However, Meduza alleges that the book is used in health and wellness classes at schools in Rostov-on-Don, Volgodonsk and Tambov. The textbook is also for sale online and is listed as a "seventh grade tutorial" book on one site.

Mizulina, who brought excerpts of the textbook to light on Telegram, is more commonly known for championing Internet censorship measures. She is the head of the Safe Internet League, which was set up to protect children online, according to the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe.

This is not the first instance in which Russian educational texts have drawn attention, after one textbook claimed U.S.President-elect Donald Trump lost the 2020 election because of voter fraud committed by the Democrats.

What People Are Saying

On Telegram, Mizulina wrote: "The textbook is not included in the Federal List of Textbooks. However, it is available in online stores. Due to the fact that not all school library funds are updated in a timely manner, it can be used in some schools. I am sure that the Ministry of Education will conduct an inspection. UPD subscribers report that such a textbook is available in schools in Rostov-on-Don, Volgodonsk and Tambov."

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen what a Russian Ministry of Education investigation regarding the Foundations of Life Safety yields and whether the book is removed from shelves and schools.

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