Fearless. The history of Ukrainian feminism in interviews

Tamara Martsenyuk is a Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and a visiting researcher in a number of international programs, including the Fulbright Program at Columbia University (USA, 2017–2018). She is the author of over 100 academic publications in international and Ukrainian scholarly journals, as well as numerous journalistic articles and contributions to textbooks and books. Since 2015 together with a research team she has conducted a series of five sociological studies titled Invisible Battalion on the status of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2023 she received the Emma Goldman Award for her contribution to research on feminism and gender inequality.

“Fearless: The History of Ukrainian Feminism in Interviews” is a collection of 23 interviews with women who stood at the origins of feminism in modern independent Ukraine. It tells the story of:

– how gender equality legislation in Ukraine was developed and adopted;
– how the tradition of the annual Women’s March on March 8 began;
– how the first Museum of Women’s and Gender History was created;
– the conditions in which the first academic studies on motherhood and the role of women in independent Ukraine were written;
– how the first gender studies programs were introduced in academic institutions.

This book is not only a compelling account of the development of feminism but also an important tool for understanding the contemporary challenges faced by women in Ukraine. It offers a way to assess what has already improved and what still requires attention. The stories it contains are not only inspiring but also provide valuable lessons for future action.