Harness Women Power

By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

After Uncle Il’ko sprinkles family members with water on Oblyvanyj Ponedilok, we get down to discussing the situation in Ukraine; mental callisthenics, he calls it.

“There is a way to exert pressure on Ukraine’s current government,” he declares conspiratorially.

“What have you in mind, Vujku?”

“The gender equity issue.  It worked in Canada, the US; even toppled Ren Lvesque in Québec when one of his lieutenants insulted the “Evettes” - a pejorative name for the lower class women.  Politicized women arose and opposed the Parti Québécois.  Women power, I tell you.”

“I’m listening.”

“So those yahoos in Ukraina say women belong in the kitchen rather than in politics.  Let the women stand up and protest.”

Uncle I’lko is referring to the faux pas made by Ukraine’s President and Prime Minister a few weeks ago when pressed by journalists on why there were no women in the cabinet. Kateryna Levchenko, President of La Strada - an organization dedicated to promoting women’s equality - was particularly incensed.  She sued Ukraine’s Prime Minister Mykola Azarov for violating women’s rights.

“I’m afraid Ukraine’s macho government won’t pay much attention to this irritant, Uncle Il’ko.”

“They will if the women of Ukraine play it right and get some help from their diaspora supporters. Here’s what needs to be done.  First, get the international women’s community to support Ukraine’s women and denounce the government’s behaviour.”

“It’s already started, Uncle Il’ko.  The international organization Femen devoted to spreading European values and tolerance in public life has called on Ukrainian and world communities to react sharply.”   

“Good!  Go for it.  Create a momentum. Call for a retraction.  Get the government to back down on the dismantling of gender and youth programs. This is the stuff of international women’s organizations. 

“Of course, it needs the full support of the diaspora organizations too. Especially women’s. The Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada, its Orthodox counterpart, the Plast sorority gals, the SUM activists.  The business and professional clubs should raise a stink too; putting down women like that!  Shameful. Put this issue before the Canadian women. More.  Get the world’s women, those who believe in equality and democracy to line up behind this issue. This stuff is worth getting your teeth into.”

Uncle Il’ko is enthused.  He’s developing a strategy to mount an opposition to the Neanderthal thinking of Ukraine’s President and Prime Minister.  I know where he’s going: the women’s protest can translate into civil society building like the Orange Revolution.  It will give Ukrainians confidence to deal with other matters.

“Ukrainian diaspora women need to be heard on this,” Uncle Il’ko continues. “There she was, dubbed as one of the most powerful women in the world.  Highly educated, sexy, intelligent; a woman who gave Ukraine the Orange Revolution, increased pensions, and negotiated a gas deal; and when she needed their support they did nothing. Now they have another chance to defend women.”

Uncle Ilko gets wound up when Ukrainians - here and in Ukraine - fail to take advantage of political opportunities.  He considers Yulia Tymoshenko, for example, a major political phenomenon: Ukraine’s main image booster. There she was, a beautiful, intelligent, scrappy politician who augmented Ukraine’s coffers and negotiated a favourable energy agreement with Russia.  He believes women let her down. She was unappreciated here and in Ukraine during difficult confrontations with former President Viktor Yushchenko.  And most critically, while having some 4 million more votes than men, Ukraine’s women failed to translate them into her victory.  It did not go unnoticed that leading feminists like writer Oksana Zabushko stated publicly that she would vote for no one. 

“The women in Canada and elsewhere need to get into politics beyond the celebration of historic events like Svjato Herojin’.  Weeping over losses of the past does not translate into dealing with today’s losses,” Uncle Il’ko analyses.

I agree.  There tends to be greater comfort among community leaders - men and women - in honouring the past, celebrating traditions and focusing on historic injustices rather than addressing them, and more importantly, influencing today’s events.

He pulls a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and spreads it on the coffee table.

“I’ve thought about this.  Here’s what needs doing”, he says. “The presidents of all major Ukrainian organizations need to get them started on this action plan:

- Contact the women’s organizations in Ukraine and ask how Canadians can support their initiatives;

- Contact Canadian women’s umbrella organizations and get commitment to make the violation of women’s rights in Ukraine their issue by writing to President Yanukovych and demanding an apology, retraction or resignation;

- Contact Femen and others to see how they can work together; and

- Contact the United Nations equity group and involve them;

“Well done Vujku.  You should get nominated for the “Yaroslav Mudryj” award for this strategy.  Others have received it for doing much less.”

“Yah. Like Fidel and Raul Castro!  No, I’ll settle for the “Kniahynia Ol’ha” award for this one.  Frankly, I’d be happier if all the recipients threatened to return their awards if the government fails to recant such unacceptable statements.”