After the declaration of the Ukrainian independence and fall of the “iron curtain” the awareness of the Ukrainian women was drastically changed. Ideologically guided canon of femininity – “a Soviet super-woman” as “a working mother” – has lost its actuality; in the 1990s it was changed by new life standards, behaviour models, values and moral norms. At once the nationalist movements appeared on the scene and demanded to design and maintain national identity with articulation of basic concepts of nationality. In Ukraine this process was socially defined through the modern reconstruction of patriarchy supported by the educational system, mass media, political discourse, and legislation. Having recognised Ukrainian as the official language, Ukraine began moulding ideology constructed on the conception of the pre- Revolutionary Ukraine. The entangled images of the Cossack republic and the image of Ukraine as Mother, together with vital revival of Orthodoxy, strengthened patriarchy in politics, social order and cultural structures of the modern Ukrainian society. However through economical crisis and society instability, the image of Mother-Protector correlated with the historical past and traditional culture of the Ukrainians was shifted from its key position by unfamiliar before, but rather appealing “Western models of femininity”. In this paper we try to find out how all these images of femininity were created, maintained and transformed through the recent years.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Transformation of the old Soviet gender traditions into the new Ukrainian surrounding
2. A woman as embodiment of the national identity – Mother-Protector
3. Western models of femininity
3.1. A supported woman – Barbie
3.2. An independent woman - Business Woman
Conclusions
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the evolution and transformation of femininity models in post-Soviet Ukraine, exploring how historical, political, and socio-economic factors have shaped the identity of Ukrainian women. It addresses the tension between traditional patriarchal expectations and the emergence of imported Western ideals.
- Transition from Soviet gender norms to modern Ukrainian national identity.
- The symbolic role of the "Mother-Protector" in political and cultural discourse.
- The adoption and adaptation of Western femininity models such as "Barbie" and "Business Woman."
- Socio-economic impact on gender role distribution and professional self-realization.
- The persistence of patriarchal structures despite societal modernization.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. A supported woman – Barbie
Barbie image is rather common with a Barbie-toy, but in reality - just the assembled narcissist way of life of a beautiful and expensive plaything. It presupposes two main things: existence of the corresponding surrounding and attributes in order to fulfil its major vocation – to find a Mr. Right and later, to be His woman. This image is successfully advertised and maintained by mass media, especially by the women press (“Natalie”, “Lisa”, “The Only One”, “The Women Magazine”, etc.). They inform their readers about the men's priorities by forming new femininity standards and advise how to reach a noble ideal. According to these magazines, the success prerequisites are beauty, youth, slenderness, sexuality, a good taste in dressing, cooking and upbringing of children, also awareness in the zodiac matters and in buying cheap but good in the supermarkets. Intellect, education, skills, or personal interests are not demanded from such women. Moreover, the magazine supports their words by printing the stories of “the really successful women”.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section outlines the shift in Ukrainian women's awareness following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of new nationalist ideologies that reinforced patriarchal structures.
1. Transformation of the old Soviet gender traditions into the new Ukrainian surrounding: This chapter analyzes how early independence efforts to forge a national identity relied on educational systems and political discourse to preserve traditional gender roles.
2. A woman as embodiment of the national identity – Mother-Protector: The author examines the state-promoted image of the "Mother-Protector," which synthesizes archaic, religious, and historical themes to confine women to the private sphere.
3. Western models of femininity: This chapter introduces the "Barbie" and "Business Woman" archetypes as Western imports that compete with traditional models while being simultaneously shaped by local circumstances.
3.1. A supported woman – Barbie: This section critiques the "Barbie" model, illustrating how media and advertising promote an image of women as decorative objects whose primary goal is to attract and belong to men.
3.2. An independent woman - Business Woman: The chapter explores the "Business Woman" model, noting that while it offers more autonomy, it is often compromised by societal pressure to maintain traditional motherly duties and limited access to high-level economic spheres.
Conclusions: The final section summarizes that all contemporary models of femininity in Ukraine remain bound by patriarchal discourse and highlights how these models persist despite the changing socio-economic landscape.
Keywords
Femininity, Ukraine, Mother-Protector, Barbie, Business Woman, Patriarchy, National Identity, Gender Roles, Post-Soviet, Media Representation, Socio-economic, Labour Market, Traditionalism, Consumerism, Role Conflict
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper explores the transformation of femininity models in Ukraine from the fall of the Soviet Union to the early 2000s, analyzing how state and societal forces construct the identity of women.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The core themes include the revival of traditional patriarchal values, the role of national identity, the influence of mass media and advertising, and the importation of Western gender archetypes.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to identify how images of femininity, such as the "Mother-Protector" and the "Business Woman," have been created, maintained, and transformed to serve specific social and political functions.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author utilizes a qualitative, sociological approach, incorporating analysis of educational curricula, political discourse, media content, and existing gender research in the post-Soviet context.
What does the main body of the work address?
It details the historical shift in gender traditions, the symbolic construction of the "Mother-Protector" image, the impact of the "Barbie" consumer model, and the challenges faced by women in the professional "Business Woman" role.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as femininity, patriarchy, gender roles, post-Soviet, national identity, and the dichotomy between public and private spheres.
How does the author define the "Mother-Protector" image?
It is defined as an artificially created, state-promoted image that synthesizes religious and historical archetypes to justify the confinement of women to the domestic sphere as guardians of the nation.
What conflict does the "Business Woman" model face in Ukraine?
The "Business Woman" model experiences a role conflict because society often expects her to balance professional independence with the traditional, often prioritized, duties of motherhood and housekeeping.
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- Nataliya Gudz (Autor:in), 2004, Transformations and changes in contemporary Ukrainian femininity models, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/32691
