Sex in the USSR: Moscow's Intimate Secrets

The phrase that became legendary and spawned countless jokes had, in reality, nothing to do with the truth. Whatever you called it — "intimacy," "sexual relations," or "intimate practices" — it was happening all along, even as children were officially delivered by storks or found in cabbage patches for 70 years. On this walk, you'll dive into the delicate and provocative side of Moscow's history — and the country's as a whole. We'll talk about the sexual revolution of the 1920s and how centuries-old family values crumbled under the pressure of "free love" and communal living. Traditional conservatism soon made a comeback, and the "12 Sexual Commandments of the Revolutionary Proletariat" became the Soviet citizen's go-to guide. You'll discover how the authorities managed to cool the passions of a newly liberated youth and steer intimate life back toward austerity. We'll also reveal how the Khrushchev Thaw brought the surprising discovery that underwear could exist without a fleece lining — and explore the consequences of 70 years of performative restraint. And of course, we'll find out how people actually met, where they went on dates, what gifts they gave, what they wore, and where the curious name "Product No. 2" came from. Your guide's storytelling will be brought to life with archival materials and photographs that offer the most compelling answer to the provocative question: was there really sex in the Soviet Union?