Larisa's views on women's abilities to work and lead also extend to the politicial sphere: "If the presidential elections were held right now," she says, "I would vote for whatever woman candidate there was.
"I really believe that only a woman can bring a fresh perspective to what's going on in this country right now. Men just like to hear the sound of their own voices, like to hear themselves making promises. But a woman understands what the situation is for children, for families.
"I can't respect a woman like Raisa Gorbachev, who was supposedly the
head of all these different organizations while her husband was a leader, and then
just disappeared with him to a house in the country when he lost power. If she
were an intelligent woman, a strong woman, she would have continued her work
no matter what. But she didn't. She just followed him into obscurity."
