Posted on 11/18/2006 2:38:03 AM PST by MadIvan
What do you do if the majority of the men in your country seem so self-absorbed, feckless or dependent on the bottle that there aren't enough to go round?
Russian women believe that they have found the answer, with growing numbers flocking to "bitch schools" that purport to provide a competitive edge in a dwindling market of suitable bachelors, or provide those already in relationships with the skills to bring their men to heel.
Twice a week, women stream into the Dubrovka theatre in Moscow. Four years ago, 129 people were killed there during a botched attempt to free an audience taken hostage by Chechen extremists. Today its backstage rooms are home to a night school run by Vladimir Rakovsky, a motivational speaker, and his wife, Yevgenia, who teach "bitchology".
In Russia, where feminism is treated with suspicion and its practitioners often regarded as lesbians, being a "bitch" is not what many in the West would assume.
A successful "bitch", Mr Rakovsky explains, is neither strident nor sassy, but demure, manipulative and aware of her own sexuality in order to get her own way.
"Bitchology is the theory, practice and technique of being successful in a man's world," he said. "A smart woman gets what she wants by pretending to be weak."
"A bitch should be strong and self-confident but should remember to use feminine wiles, such as her attractiveness and, whenever useful, she should try to come across as a helpless creature."
Lessons begin with the philosophy of "bitchology". The "bitch" should win favours by acting either as a helpless baby or, in rare situations, like an adult woman.
Then its off to the "school of seduction" in which the women learn to attract the most discerning of men by flaunting their sexuality. This week, students learned how to a work a room full of men just by dropping something, and picking it up, to "accentuate the most beautiful part of your body". "If it's your breasts, flaunt them, if it's your backside use it," Mrs Rakovsky, 21, told them.
Next week, she will focus on how to surreptitiously rub one's breasts against an unsuspecting subject. In the final lesson, the women learn the art of the striptease.
The Rakovskys' students swear by the technique which, according to one, gives every Russian woman what she wants: "Great sex, money and a man who looks after you."
Natalya, 33, said: "If I play the role of a baby, my man begins to take care of me. He behaves like he has to protect me."
While Russia's attitude to gender equality may seem baffling to many westerners, sociologists say it has to be understood in the context of its history.
In Soviet times, when sexism officially did not exist, women ploughed fields and work in factories. Today, many young women would prefer to shop or dine out. If their men can fund such a lifestyle, equality appears to be a sacrifice worth making.
Here are interesting photos of Rakovsky's lessons:
http://rakovsky.ru/fotoalbum/stdnepr/index.htm
That girl's about 11 or 12.
Didn't work for my husband. *sigh* He had sisters. Made him immune.
Finally I had to pointedly ask him what he wanted, dare him to marry me, slap a magazine out of his hand and challenge him to look at rings. We were married 10 days later.
In the last 16+ years of marriage, the "baby" trick has never worked on him. Not once. He always says, "You're an adult."
Crap. Now I've ruined everything and I'm stuck in a relationship of mutual respect and friendship.
LOL! Forward them to lowbridge. Maybe he can broker a relationship between these ladies and Nigerian spammers.
A successful "bitch", Mr Rakovsky explains, is neither strident nor sassy, but demure, manipulative and aware of her own sexuality in order to get her own way.
I hope that she is referring to the first (not quite so offensive) russian bitch term "sterva" [demanding woman] and not to "suka" [literally, female dog]
In mine we call it a "trophy wife".
Not to be confused with a future ex Mrs. insert name here.
There are some very beautiful eastern European women to be sure, and when they're beautiful, they're really beautiful. But, with their fair skin and strong genetic tendency to put on weight, their looks are very high maintenance. Many fail, and look quite worn out by their mid 30's.
Beware the bitches ping!
This usually works on me
It is only under freedom that men can assert their natural, God-given male proclivities. I think that's part of the problem we're having in Iraq. People who have lived under oppression for a generation or more lack the skills to master independence, decisiveness and self-reliance after the yoke of tyranny has been shed.
It will take a full generation or more for Russians (and Iraqis) to begin to advance their potential and, if they keep electing people like Putin, they will revert back to the old system before they get that far. There are solid reasons to prop up emerging democracies with economic and political assistance. We take independence and opportunity for granted. It is second nature to us - it's who we are - and constitutes the governing philosophy of our country. We were raised to understand that we can be anything and as successful as we want to be, but that it's up to us as individuals to make the choices and do the hard work that take us where we want to go. It's the second part of that equation that is the stumbling block for those whose only life experiences have been dominated by socialism and dictatorial rule.
Very thoughtful reply. We do take for granted that people will take risks to make a better live for themselves when their society chopped off many of the heads who tried.
They are doomed.
Cheers,
knewshound
http://www.knewshound.blogspot.com/
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