ДІЯЛЬНІСТЬ ЖІНОЧИХ НАЦІОНАЛЬНО-КУЛЬТУРНИХ ОБ’ЄДНАНЬ В ОДЕСІ (XIX – ПОЧАТОК ХХ СТОЛІТТЯ)
ACTIVITY WOMEN’S NATIONAL AND CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS IN ODESA (XIX CENTURY AND IN THE EARLY XX CENTURY)

Summary/Abstract: The article is dealing with the study of women's national and cultural association activities in the public and social life of Odesa in the XIX century and in the early XX century, to determine the women's national and cultural association development peculiarities, their personal composition. National and cultural associations are the main means of the national community to realize their own rights, an instrument of national consolidation, and mutual assistance. The main thesis of the article is that the national and cultural societies existence allows non-citizens of the title ethnic group to implement the fullest right exercise to study their ethnic culture, language and traditions when, under difficult economic conditions, the state may not always have this to provide. The regulation documents of many Odesa national and cultural societies declared the gender equality in membership, and in fact - encouraging women to participate in the public movement, but we have only isolated cases of the women’s active participation. Based on the archival material usage, the sources and literature publication, the formation process and organizational design of women's national and cultural associations in Odesa were analyzed, the specifics and directions of their activities were revealed, their association role in the social and cultural life of certain nationalities and the city as a whole was examined, the national and cultural association process of Odessa and their plans for life was analyzed. It is determined that the national and cultural associations, including women's, are the main means for the national communities (in particular, minorities) to realize their rights, an instrument of national consolidation, mutual assistance. The article refers to polyfunctional associations, which mainly had the name and status of societies, represented a certain national or cultural and confessional community, and pursued more or less broad cultural tasks, primarily of a charitable direction, but again aimed at their compatriots. 53 It was determined that the main areas of charity and patronage of women's national and cultural associations in Odessa were: assistance to churches and priests; care for orphans; assistance in the event of a natural disaster or war; assistance to compatriots in their desire to go to their homeland; foundation and assistance to educational institutions; assistance in the creation and arrangement of cultural centers; support of talents; funding research and supporting scientists. The main directions of educational work were: holding parties and lectures, both in Russian and in national languages; publication of books and periodicals; distribution of books and periodicals among the masses; struggle against alcoholism; the awakening of historical memory; providing information support for those wishing to emigrate; organization of libraries and museums; struggle against national discrimination. Conclusions are drawn that national and cultural associations allow citizens who are not related to the title ethnic group to fully realize the right to study their ethnic culture, language, traditions. In addition, we have identified the specifics and activities of women’s national and cultural associations, their role in the social and cultural life of certain nationalities and the city as a whole. All of the above arguments prove thesis of this article.

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