Not just Russia -- Spain too.

The country's population was severely affected both by deaths during the Civil War, and exile.  Franco (every year) had prizes for the largest families -- hero mothers and all of that.  Same wine as the Soviet Union, just a different label.

The whole society conspired to suppress women's ambition and future.  Most schools were run by the Church.  Even those which were secular had to adhere to Catholic teaching.  Catholic education, which in this country drove Catholics to be one of the best-educated groups, reinforced social and religious norms of how education for the poor.  Boys got the better education overall, girls (like me) ended up with nuns whose goal was to make sure we learned enough to have a little job until we got married and popped out a child per year.  

Contraception was illegal.  Abortion was illegal.  Sterilization was illegal.  Women could not have a bank account in their own name. 

To me, this is not fiction.