Solomea Pavlychko, born in L’viv in 1958, is considered the beginning of the Ukrainian women’s movement and the first contemporary Ukrainian feminist and she continues to be an important inspiration to Ukrainian academics, politicians, activists and citizens. Tamara Hundorova said, "Ukraine was so fortunate to have Solomea. Her impact was such that we began to think differently. In 10 years' time - and the 1990s were hers - she made a breakthrough in our consciousness” and Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko, in her reflections on Solomea added, "If someone could be called noble, it was Solomea - not by virtue of her name or position, but by virtue of her dignity and decency, respect for the individual and incredible hard work - she was truly noble in the heart and spirit."
Before she passed away at the young age of 41, Ms. Pavlychko asked Valentyna Kyrylova to be director of Osnovy Publishers, which she started in 1992 to translate scientific books and foreign literature into Ukrainian. Valentyna, recommended as a “walking example of how feminism works in this country,” met with me over coffee in downtown Kyiv yesterday afternoon.
I ask Valentyna why Solomea was considered the first feminist in Ukraine. Her response was that Solomea brought and promoted new ideas and knowledge in Ukraine – and for Ukraine - which became a catalyst for many women to realize ways to better their lives. Previously, she said many women wanted to change their situation but without access to sources of new information, it was extremely difficult to develop a new way of thinking. The publishing house continues this work, translating a wide-range of subjects into Ukrainian to promote both the new ideas and the national language.
Solomea’s father, Dmytro Pavlychko, a famous poet from the Soviet period, served as deputy of the Supreme Soviet and as Ambassador to Poland and Slovakia. From one of his trips abroad he brought Solomea Lady Chatterley’s Lover and she was 24 when she translated the book into Ukrainian. Taras Koznarsky, in a tribute to Solomea says, “her own translations from English, especially of the D. H. Lawrence novel Lady Chatterley's Lover, lifted taboos of what could be expressed with taste and grace in Ukrainian literary language.” Valentya said there remains a misconception that the Ukrainian language is not rich enough for some translations and the majority of books for sale and in universities are still in Russian language.
Pavlychko received her Ph.D. in American literature at the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv State University and in 1985 began working at the Institute of Literature of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences as a leading specialist in literary theory. From that position she traveled to the U.S., Canada and England and when she returned to Ukraine she wrote an article for the newspaper that received a great amount of attention entitled The New Position of Ukrainian Women in Ukrainian Society. In the article she urged women to take a new role in all areas of society including the political sphere (she said her own love of literature stopped her from pursuing a political career).
Ms. Kyrylova also spoke about her opinions on the women’s movement today in Ukraine...and she said she thought the discussion of feminism was enough for now. Many women who are successful and wealthy do not like the idea of ‘feminism’ - and do not realize they are feminists - but she thinks the issues will reemerge as society and democracy develops in Ukraine.
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