Page:The Marriage Laws of Soviet Russia (1921).pdf/14

 more readily to accept the principles of socialism which will ultimately free her." Moreover, it will be seen that the code does not rest with a mere tacit assumption of the economic equality of the sexes. It does more than merely ignore the old discriminations. It contains certain clauses definitely aimed to destroy the effect of those customs which tended to oppress women.

In marriage and divorce and with respect to children, the code establishes equal and mutual rights and obligations' for men and women. The woman's economic rights and her private possessions are carefully protected against any operation of bourgeois and feudal discriminations and usurpations. "Marriage does not establish community of property between the married persons" (Section 105). In order that the intention of this clause shall not’be set aside by private agreement obtained under the pressure of the old customs which operated to diminish the wife's economic rights, a succeeding clause provides that "agreements concluded between married persons tending to impair the rights of the husband or the wife over his or her properties shall be deemed void and not binding upon any persons whatsoever including the parties to said agreement" (Section 106). Another provision deals a death blow to the old concept of the slave wife: "The change of residence by one of the parties to a marriage shall not impose an obligation upon the other party to follow the former" (Section 104). The law provides that parental authority over the children shall be exercised by the parents jointly and refers disagreements to the local courts (Sections 150, 152).