PhD in Pedagogy Melnychuk T.F.
PhD in Philosophy Danylova
T.V.
National
University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
Challenging gender inequality: Women’s Club “Harmony”
This paper aims to familiarize readers with
current gender issues in Ukraine as well as with addressing gender inequality
and improving the status of women through activity of women’s club “Harmony”
(National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine).
Key words: gender, gender equality, women’s
club, gender stereotypes
Introduction. Dramatic changes of woman’s
role in society took place in the second half of the twentieth century. She became a significant player in economy,
politics, and culture, but despite this, the real equality is not achieved.
Women are still largely subordinate to men. Civil liberties will remain
abstract concepts unless they can be supported by women’s chances to realize
their potential, their own life projects. "Women's rights are human
rights" is declared in paragraph 14 of the Declaration adopted by the
Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, which took place in 1995 [1].
Combating gender discrimination stereotypes is one of the most important issues
of today. Its awareness and removal of “barriers” that impedes the development of
equal relationship between men and women meet the goals of humanistic society.
Theoretical basis. Gender inequality causes
problems for Ukrainian society. During the Millennium Summit (2000) the
Millennium Development Goals were outlined [2]. Among 189 member states of the
United Nations, Ukraine is committed to gender equality and the empowerment of
women. Though, the main problem here is the declarative character of gender
equality and women's rights. The real situation is the opposite of legal requirements.
According to Global Gender Gap Report 2012 by World Economic Forum, Ukraine
occupies 64th place among 135 countries, which were included in the
rating. Four major spheres of gender inequality were analyzed: economic
participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and
political empowerment [3].
|
Ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index* |
||
|
World Economic
Forum, 2012. The Global Gender Gap Report 2012 |
||
|
1 |
Iceland |
0.864 |
|
2 |
Finland |
0.845 |
|
3 |
Norway |
0.840 |
|
4 |
Sweden |
0.816 |
|
5 |
Ireland |
0.784 |
|
6 |
New Zealand |
0.781 |
|
7 |
Denmark |
0.778 |
|
8 |
Philippines |
0.776 |
|
9 |
Nicaragua |
0.770 |
|
10 |
Switzerland |
0.767 |
|
11 |
Netherlands |
0.766 |
|
12 |
Belgium |
0.765 |
|
13 |
Germany |
0.763 |
|
14 |
Lesotho |
0.761 |
|
15 |
Lithuania |
0.757 |
|
16 |
South Africa |
0.750 |
|
17 |
Luxembourg |
0.744 |
|
18 |
United Kingdom |
0.743 |
|
19 |
Cuba |
0.742 |
|
20 |
Austria |
0.739 |
|
21 |
Canada |
0.738 |
|
22 |
USA |
0.737 |
|
23 |
Mozambique |
0.735 |
|
24 |
Burundi |
0.734 |
|
25 |
Australia |
0.729 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57 |
France |
0.698 |
|
58 |
Madagascar |
0.698 |
|
59 |
Russia |
0.698 |
|
60 |
Estonia |
0.698 |
|
61 |
Macedonia |
0.697 |
|
62 |
Brazil |
0.691 |
|
63 |
Colombia |
0.690 |
|
64 |
Ukraine |
0.689 |
|
65 |
Thailand |
0.689 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
131 |
Saudi Arabia |
0.573 |
|
132 |
Syria |
0.563 |
|
133 |
Chad |
0.559 |
|
134 |
Pakistan |
0.548 |
|
135 |
Yemen |
0.505 |
*According to the World Economic
Forum (2012) [4]
Discrimination
in the labor market should be noted. Women performing the same type of work
tasks (and sometimes more complicated work), working the same hours are paid
less in comparison to men. In almost all sectors of the economy women hold
low-weight jobs. During employment, women are less likely to get a vacancy than
men and they have poorer job choices. Also, the employers often say that the
competition is announced exclusively for men.
Gender
inequality in politics is a serious concern. Over the last 20 years (since
Ukraine's independence) the situation of women’s representation in politics has
not improved. Insignificant part of women in political and decision-making
processes is a serious challenge to democracy, as far as more than 50 percent
of people are excluded from participation in government [5].
Violence
against women has become an acute problem. Women in Ukraine are usually
deprived of fundamental rights to be free from violence and to fight back on
the grounds of law. Current legislation, economic and social structures do not
allow women to receive compensation for domestic violence. Ombudsman V.
Lutkovska [6] urged Ukrainian Government to ratify the Council of Europe
Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic
violence [7], which was adopted in May, 2011. Ukrainian Minister of Foreign
Affairs (at the time) K. Gryshchenko signed the Convention on behalf of Ukraine
in 2011, but unfortunately the Convention is not yet ratified.
While
gender equality has been a central and enduring theme in western gender theory,
traditionally it has had a marginal reputation in Ukrainian mentality. Viewed as a challenge to traditional notions
of women’s place in society, gender issues are often seen as something to be
avoided, as something problematic and harmful for society. However, more people
are aware now that gender equality has the potential to bring new
perspectives.
Rights alone
do not guarantee equality and
justice for women. It is clear that
only combined efforts of all members of society can overcome gender imbalance.
In modern society, along with public institutions, political parties, advocacy
groups, the importance of various women’s organizations, associations, and
clubs increases. Depending on the orientation, women's organizations and
associations defend economic interests, social needs, and political rights of
women. Working together with trade union, youth, ecological, pacifist, and
other social movements, women's organizations contribute to struggle for social
progress, social justice, democracy, and peace in the world; promote humanistic
principles in relations between people.
In Ukraine, women have the right to choose their own ways in life:
either to devote themselves to housekeeping and motherhood, or to combine work and
family responsibilities. Primarily women choose jobs such as
physician, nurse, teacher, economist, social worker, clerk, shop assistant, and
scientist. Ukrainian women have a historic opportunity to realize themselves in
the field of science. Since 1929s right-to-work and right-to-higher education
laws were passed. Since then, there have been significant changes in the
attitude of society towards female education and participation of women in
science. Later significant changes in societal attitudes towards female
education and women’s participation in science occurred.
National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine plays
a major role in the development of agricultural science. National University of
Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine is top ranked for agricultural
science and recognized as a leader in research, education, and innovation in
Ukraine. Representatives of the fair sex make significant contributions to it.
The university comprises 13 research institutes, 20 faculties, 125 departments
(Kiev center), the Crimean Agrotechnological University, 2 Institutes, 9
colleges, and 1 school in different regions of Ukraine. A large number of
university scientists and lecturers, where women currently make up 47%, create
conditions for intellectual development, self-awareness and self-disclosure,
reconstruct professional knowledge in accordance with up-to-date state
educational standards, educate in the best traditions of national and world
culture. Their painstaking and creative work makes a significant contribution
to development and improvement of the educational process, the revival of
national economy, culture, and science [8].
Findings and suggestions.
Among many organizations of students and teaching staff, women's business club
"Harmony" is particularly popular. Over the ten years of its
existence (2004-2013), this informal women's organization proved itself in
areas such as:
-
representation and protection of women’s legal
rights and interests;
-
providing emotional and psychological support;
-
involvement of teaching staff and students in promotion of peace
and environmental security;
-
promoting the active role of women in public and
political life;
-
participation in charity events;
-
development and implementation of a number of
educational and training programs to explore Ukrainian cultural heritage;
-
promoting healthy active lifestyle of modern woman.
Women's club "Harmony" has a typical format of modern
social organizations: club is guided by the Constitution of Ukraine, State
legislation and the Statute of the club and is approved by the Academic Council
of the University. Club activity is based on the principles of democracy,
transparency, and equality of all its members. Club operates independently of
any political, religious, or military agendas. If necessary, the club members
collaborate with state and public organizations of identical direction. The
structure of the club includes not only employees of the university, but also
students. It helps bridge the gap between university staff and students,
establishes fair relations between them, and approves the pedagogical
principles of cooperation. Such conditions create great opportunities for
self-organization of women within National
University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. In 2006-2007
women’s club "Harmony" has expanded its field of activity entering
into collaboration with women's groups affiliated with the university: modern
women's clubs were organized in Western, Central and Left Bank Ukraine and the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Currently
women’s organization includes 14 clubs: “Harmony”, “Berezhanka”, “Edelveis”,
“Boyarchanka”, “Polisyanochka”, Nasnaha”, “Natkhnennia”, “Charivnytsia”,
“Zatyshok”, “Orkhideia”, “Ilona”, “Ol'viia”, “Ariadna”, “Nizhynka”.
The
organizer and inspirer of women's organization within National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
is Associate Professor of Cultural Studies department, PhD in Pedagogy,
Melnychuk Tatyana Fyodorovna. Her creativity and labor achievements were
acknowledged by Ukrainian state (she is a holder of the Excellence in Education
of Ukraine badge, Badge of Honor of the
Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, numerous certificates and letters of
various government agencies), as well as by His Holiness Patriarch Filaret, who
awarded the Chairman of women's club "Harmony" the Order of St.
Barbara, St. Cyril and Methodius.
Conclusion. These glorious achievements
became possible as a result of creative initiative, active civic position,
pursuit of progress, patriotism, and responsibility of all female
representatives of National University of Life
and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine.
References