March 8 is Women's Day – a chance for men to pamper the ladies in their lives. Most women enjoy the presents and attention but a growing number feel that mothers and wives should be given a better deal all year round.

While many males are happy to make a fuss over their ladies on birthdays, at Christmas and on Women's Day, females are saying that's not enough. They're asking what about the rest of the year.

Aleksandr is in many ways a model husband. He is one of a new breed of house husbands. He quit work to raise his daughters after they were involved in the horrific Nord Ost terrorist tragedy at the Dubrovka theatre in 2002.

He says he had no idea that a woman’s work really is never done.

“I would say keeping the house is just one part of the story. Bringing up the children is the main goal behind it. It makes you happy to watch them grow, change and learn new things.”

And today as the nation congratulates its women some of them are taking the opportunity to fight for a better deal all year round.

Marina Raksha is the founder of the Homemakers' Union, an organisation fighting for a better deal for Russia's housewives and husbands.

“We stand for social guarantees for people who've dedicated their lives to their families. We want real equality. According to our constitution, we are all equal. We want a housewife to sound just as important as a journalist,” she says.

So while presents are always welcome, some of Russia's women would prefer the way they spend March 8 to seem a little bit less special.