What is the importance of Russia in the nonfiction book, Witches, Midwives, and Nurses?

At the time of the original publication of Witches, Midwives, and Nurses, 75% of doctors in Russia were female. This is in sharp contrast to the United States where, at the time, only 7% of doctors were women. As such, Russia illustrates that the exclusion of women from the medical profession is not due to any "inherent," "natural," or gender-based qualities that keep women from pursuing such careers. Instead, it is the result of systematic oppression and ingrained social structures.