Tereshkova’s generation, though it encompassed almost the entire era of Soviet rule, had been raised in the tradition of Russian womanhood. Much older than the Soviet regime, this tradition emphasizes a spirit of sacrifice – not just for loved ones, but also for great causes such as revolution, state, science, or art – that is deeply hostile to accumulation of money and material goods as the goal of life.
捷列什科娃的一代人尽管包含了几乎整个苏联统治年代，但却是在俄罗斯妇女传统中长大的。这一传统要比苏联政权还要悠久得多。它强调一种牺牲精神，不仅为所爱的人牺牲，也要为革命、国家、科学和艺术等等伟大的事业牺牲。这种精神与聚敛金钱和物质财富的生活目标格格不入。