Ukrainian Women at War

From provocative pin-up, to maternal inspiration, to comrade in arms, the image and role of Ukrainian women at war has evolved considerably over the past century.

To examine that evolution and how it is manifested in a modern-day Ukraine at war, Oksana Kis, Ph.D. spoke at Siena on September 25 about "Ukrainian Women at War: Historical Legacies and Present Day Challenges." Kis is an historian and anthropologist at the National Academy of Sciences in Lviv, Ukraine.

Kis explained that in Ukraine, women have stereotypically been seen as defenders of hearth and home, while they actually fulfill a wide range of roles during wartime, such as active-duty soldiers, intelligence officers, activists, government officials, volunteers, and yes, homemakers.

"They tend to the hearth of Ukraine as a nation, not just the hearths of individual homes," she said, "There has been an expansion of the definition of femininity and we're seeing more images of women as warriors."

After a tracing the evolving role of Ukrainian women in wartime, she shared new images by Ukrainian artists showing women as goddesses and soldiers. They are painted on public murals, sold as posters, and shared online as memes to inspire Ukrainians as they battle Russian invaders. The women portrayed are often in uniform and brandishing weapons. While some images still maintain a provocative air, they are far from the erotic pin-ups of the past.

"Militant feminism does not deny femininity," she said.

Ausra Park, Ph.D., professor of international relations and chair of the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies minor, arranged for Kis to speak at Siena after she attended a conference at Princeton University.

"War is usually considered to be a game of, and for, men with little consideration given to how it affects other segments of society or who participates in it," said Park. "Dr. Kis's research unveils not only practical challenges that women volunteers have faced in the past and continue to encounter at present, but also invisible and hidden challenges such as sexist portrayals of women fighters."

"Ukrainian society shows growing appreciation for 'combat witches,' while younger generations are shedding old stereotypes" and, Park added, "accepting women soldiers and volunteers as 'cool and empowered heroines' both in real life and even as increasingly popular cartoon characters."

Dan Leake '25 noted how Ukrainian citizens put social differences aside to come together for a greater cause.

"It was interesting to see how they have integrated their history into art and symbolism that inspires war time support from the public," he said.