UKRAINIAN LITERATURE BY WOMEN WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF COLONIALISM AND POSTCOLONIALISM
UKRAINIAN LITERATURE BY WOMEN WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF COLONIALISM AND POSTCOLONIALISM

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on the roots of Ukrainian feminism, outstanding personalities involved in the development of Ukrainian literature and well-known contemporary female writers who interpret the colonial and postcolonial thinking in their works. The article compares the differences in the development of feminism in the eastern and western Ukraine. The most important Ukrainian feminists are presented as well as their opinion streams and their works of literary criticism. The theme of women has been transformed in contemporary literature; therefore we focus mainly on the works of 20th century. In addition to women's issues we found concrete manifestations of anti-colonial and post-colonial resistance in the works of these Ukrainian authors across of time. The manifestations are based on the denouncement of imperialism. Contemporary Ukrainian feminism is re-evaluating the position of women in society in connection with the cultural and social situation and at the same time takes into account the political context within the particular stages of the historic development of the state. The paper gives examples of postcolonial mythologization of Ukrainian nation, formation of Ukrainian identity by activation of historical memory. In conclusion, the paper introduces a new heroine in Ukrainian prose - woman of complete subjective expressions, an open woman, sexually aware & intellectually mature.

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