THE ROLE OF UKRAINIAN MASS MEDIA IN FORMING ATTITUDE OF SOCIETY TOWARDS UKRAINIAN WOMEN IN THE ARMY AND AT WAR

Abstract

The authors of the article analyze the role and significance of the mass media in highlighting the contribution of Ukrainian women to the fight against the Russian aggressor, overcoming gender stereotypes regarding women military servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the mass consciousness of Ukrainian society, and in general, the specifics of the reflection of this process in the mass media of Ukraine. The article notes that with the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the territory of the independent Ukrainian state, significant changes took place in the Ukrainian mass media regarding the perception and representation of female military personnel in the Ukrainian army. If before the full-scale invasion of the Russian invaders into the territory of Ukraine there were differences in the assessment of the positive role of women in the Armed Forces, today women in the Ukrainian army are perceived as a positive phenomenon. The defenders of the people and the country against a dangerous enemy are the pride of Ukraine. Media materials reflect the real attitude of the warring society towards its women defenders and are an indicator of the process of overcoming a number of gender stereotypes that were inherent in Ukrainian society in the previous years before Russia’s open aggression against Ukraine. In particular, stereotypes about the inability of women to perform military tasks on an equal footing with men, the unsuitability of women to participate in war in general, the weakness of the female sex, etc. The article concludes about the active movement of Ukrainians towards the equality and equality of women and men in the army, including through overcoming gender stereotypes. The authors pay attention to specific examples and features of coverage of Ukrainian women's participation in hostilities through mass media; the connection of gender transformations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the principles of NATO is traced. The article makes a forecast regarding the mandatory/optional conscription of Ukrainian women into the army.