Abstract

Having been spared the constraints imposed on intellectual discourse by the totalitarian regime of the past, young Ukrainian scholars now engage with many Western ideological theories and practices in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and uncensored scholarship. Displacing the Soviet legacy of prescribed thought and practices, this volume’s female contributors have infused their work with Western elements, although vestiges of Soviet-style ideas, research methodology, and writing linger. The result is the articulation of a “New Imaginaries” — neither Soviet nor Western — that offers a unique approach to the study of gender by presenting a portrait of Ukrainian society as seen through the eyes of a new generation of feminist scholars.

Marian J. Rubchak is a Senior Research Professor at Valparaiso University. Her work focuses on reimagining Slavic identities in various contexts. She edited the collection Mapping Difference: The Many Faces of Women in Contemporary Ukraine (Berghahn 2011).

“[These are] excellent contributions to gender studies in Ukraine…It is hoped that Rubchak or other scholars studying women and gender in Ukraine will follow up this important work with contributions that assess the state of that field in post-Euromaidan Ukraine.” · Slavic and East European Journal

“…a complex and well‐researched volume that raises critical questions about the nature of contemporary cultural and political shifts in Ukraine and offers some worthy fresh ideas and views. The book might be of interest to different groups of readers, ranging from those from within Ukraine, who might want to look at themselves through the looking glass, to scholars and journalists who have a professional interest in the country or are just seeking a short but thorough summary of the local cultural and political landscapes.” · Journal of Soviet & Post-Soviet Politics & Society

“Instead of pointing out how ‘different’ Ukrainian feminism/gender studies/women's studies is from ‘Western’ (or other) feminisms, this volume has potential to contribute to our understanding of the exciting and complex ways that feminist thought travels as one of the most important ‘ideascapes’ (à la Appadurai) of our time.” · Sarah D. Phillips, Indiana University

“All the chapters comprise intelligent, well-researched discussions of inherently significant issues in Ukraine [and]  relevant to a number of societies and cultures throughout the world.” · Michael Naydan, Penn State University

“… [the chapters] convincingly illustrate cultural shifts that occurred in Ukraine since independence and fit a paradigm of ‘New Imaginaries,’ as envisioned by the editor, namely bringing to light those qualities that are often associated with postcolonial societies and labeled as cultural hybridity.” · Maria G. Rewakowicz, University of Washington