The difference between Ukrainian and Western perceptions of feminism took center stage in a discussion at the Kyiv House of Cinema on International Women’s Day, an event organized by the French embassy and French Cultural Center. Essentially, Western feminism is depicted by a belief in the full economic, political and social equality of men and women.
Ukraine society, however, is characterized by the lack of equal participation of women in economic and political life, strong gender stereotypes and weak public discourse over what is feminism in Ukraine.
The March 8 discussion was held between the famous French feminist novelist Regine Deforges and her counterpart, the Ukrainian feminist writer Oksana Zabuzhko. Leading up to the discussion, a classic movie was screened on the topic of male and female roles in society – “Notre Univers Impitoyable” (2008) written and directed by Lea Fazer.
The film tells the story of young couple Victor and Margot, both lawyers in a major consulting firm in Paris who compete for the same job promotion. The movie portrays different scenarios, based on the success and failure of their professional lives, and the consequences. Instead of provoking discussion, the movie left open the question of individual values.
“Feminism is no longer in fashion in France,” Deforges said. “But it is already firmly integrated in our society and mentality. Each developing country, including Ukraine, has to encounter feminism and find its own way. For example, the difference between French and American feminists is principally that French women want to also remain feminine, avoiding pitting women and men against each other.”
Author Zabuzhko said: “Unfortunately, in Ukraine we don’t know anything about feminism, it is not a topic in the public discourse. We have to be afraid of feminism as it is considered to be against men. You can hear from many conservative Ukrainian people an expression “family virtues” that are considered to be more important than personal career and work. Once a woman has reached a high position, the society accuses her of being insufficiently modest. The public doesn’t accept women who show too much self-confidence. As a result, Ukrainian feminists usually don’t call themselves feminists, but their arguments are actually feminist in nature. Ukrainian women are not brave enough to express their opinion.”
Although the history of feminism in France reaches back to the French Revolution, the women only obtained the right to vote and hold office in 1944, even later than most other Western European countries. Nevertheless, since then, French feminists have attained many of the goals towards achieving economic and political gender equality. In Ukraine however, women’s rights are supported formally. They have equal constitutional rights in the economic, political, cultural and social fields, as well as in the family, but they are not being enacted.
According to the study “Gender Issues 2009,” published by the Heinrich Boll Foundation, “the obvious inequality in women’s and men’s positions on the job market has led to the feminization of poverty in Ukraine.” The statistics are revealing: Women control only 5 percent of economic resources and run only 2 percent of industrial companies. They account for 30 percent of all entrepreneurs, yet these companies are principally focused on retail, medicine, culture and science. In the workforce, they typically earn only two-thirds of men’s salaries and are subject to gender discriminatory practices. Frequently, single or recently married women are required to sign contracts by which they may be dismissed in the event of pregnancy. Their personal lives consequently may be considered open topics at job interviews.
In France, feminism is integrated in the social mentality and has become unconsciously a part of social behavior while in Ukraine there still remains a tradition of strong and distinct gender roles. Men publicly follow a gentleman’s code of conduct, the underlying fundamental premise of which is that of a stronger sex, with subsequent implications. The woman is expected to adopt behavior and dress codes accordingly.
Although support for the Ukrainian feminist movement by the French Embassy will continue with a series of related films, Deforges noted that even in France, where the political aspect of the problem has been well addressed, “there is still an imbalance with few women in politics and an average salary being lower than that of male counterparts.” Concluding the discussion, she advised: “In the end we will have a revolution, yet we must avoid violence… Feminism is first of all working within yourself.”
Maryana Polyakova is a freelance writer living in Kyiv.
