ANNA TEMKINA and ELENA ZDRAVOMYSLOVA GENDER STUDIES IN POST-SOVIET SOCIETY: WESTERN FRAMES AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES ABSTRACT. This article is devoted to the exploration of some trends in gender studies in contemporary Russia and is based on our research and teaching in the field over the course of seven years. The main concepts of gender research – gender, feminism, women’s subjectivity – were introduced to the Russian public early in 1990s; Russian gender studies began to develop as a whole due to the application of Western concepts and theories. The article examines the growth of gender studies over the last 10 years, contextual differences as well as theoretical approaches in Russian gender studies as these have arisen in the context of the ‘Russia – West’ dichotomy. KEY WORDS: gender relations and women’s position in Russia, gender studies, ‘Russia – the West’ dichotomy, theoretical approaches in gender study This paper is devoted to the exploration of some trends in gender studies in contemporary Russia and is based on our research and teaching in the field over the course of seven years. The main concepts of gender research – gender, feminism, women’s subjectivity – have been taken over from Western feminist discourse and were introduced to the Russian public early in 1990s; Russian gender studies began to develop as a whole thanks to the application of Western concepts and theories. We will start with a few words about the growth of gender studies over the last 10 years. Second, a brief description will follow of contextual differences, as reflected in research, our own included. Third, we will focus on theoretical approaches in Russian gender studies which have arisen in the context of the ‘Russia – West’ dichotomy. THE INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF GENDER STUDIES IN RUSSIA Women’s and gender studies arose in Russia at the beginning of nineties. It is generally held that the first article dealing with Studies in East European Thought 55: 51–61, 2003. © 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.