Authors

Discussion

This presentation aims to examine how Ukrainian leftist feminists seek to disrupt conventional narratives of post-war reconstruction in Ukraine. Based on insights from 12 semi-structured ethnographic interviews, the research delves into visions of reconstruction that are rooted in class-conscious feminist political and social visions. The women interviewed envision reconstruction as an opportunity to challenge entrenched socio-economic inequalities and to reimagine Ukraine as a more inclusive and equitable society, in stark contrast to the post-Soviet reconstruction, which led to one of the highest rates of inequality in Europe (Klimina, 2015; Lyubchenko, 2022; Yurchenko et al, 2021, etc) and one of the greatest gender disparities (Mathers, 2020; Hankvsky and Salnykova, 2012; Gatskova, 2021). 

The feminist critique focuses on the dominant plans for rebuilding Ukraine, which prioritize Western Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), the privatization of state assets, and the conditions tied to loans from the IMF, World Bank, and other Western financial institutions (Heyets et al, 2022; Svitych, 2023; Hilmarsson, 2024; Yurchenko, 2023). These approaches, rooted in the neoliberal trifecta of liberalization, privatization, and stabilization, have historically exacerbated inequality and disproportionately harmed women and marginalized groups. The feminist visions proposed offer a radical disruption to these mainstream approaches by advocating for policies that prioritize gender equality, social welfare, and economic justice.

Yet, these alternative views face strong resistance within Ukraine, where leftist feminists are often accused of harboring Soviet nostalgia or engaging in anti-Ukrainian propaganda, as narrated by the respondents. This presentation explores the tension between feminist critiques and the dominant reconstruction strategies, emphasizing the potential of these disruptive visions to reshape Ukraine’s future beyond the neoliberal frameworks imposed by Western financial powers.