From Blue Jeans to Checkered Bags

Women’s Role in the Creation of a Soviet Consumer Culture

Authors

  • Iulia Sava University of Colorado Boulder

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33011/cuhj20253689

Keywords:

soviet, consumerism, consumer culture, women, shopping, social connections, black market, soviet bloc

Abstract

This thesis studies consumer culture in the Soviet Bloc during the Khrushchev and Brezhnev eras and takes a particularly close look at the role which women played in creating an underground consumer market. Section I establishes the basis for identifying the Soviet Bloc as a consumer culture, Section II studies the way that this consumer culture was driven through social connection rather than capital, and Section III looks specifically at the role that women played in creating and maintaining these essential social connections.

To see the complete thesis, please visit https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/undergraduate_honors_theses/02870x218.

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Published

2025-04-29

How to Cite

Sava, I. (2025). From Blue Jeans to Checkered Bags: Women’s Role in the Creation of a Soviet Consumer Culture. University of Colorado Honors Journal, 4–5. https://doi.org/10.33011/cuhj20253689

Issue

Section

Humanities