Gender Equality in the EU and Ukraine: Women?s Rights in a Time of War

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of gender equality and women’s rights in Ukraine and the European Union, focusing on both political security and economic– social dimensions.

The first part examines European gender policy standards in Ukraine, feminist foreign policy, women’s involvement in political protests, and the influential roles of First Ladies like Brigitte Macron, Agata Kornhauser- Duda, and Olena Zelenska in promoting gender equality. It also explores gendered aspects of military service, the portrayal of female refugees, and the EU’s response to sexual violence in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The second part addresses economic and social issues, including the intersection of gender equality with sustainable development, gender- responsive budgeting, and women’s roles in business. It highlights women’s contributions to nonprofit organizations and discusses the experiences of Ukrainian female students in Poland as well as the status of single mothers in Ukraine and the UK.

The study is relevant for policy formulation by institutions working on gender equality, foreign affairs, and human rights. It is also a valuable resource for universities, research institutes, think tanks, and civil society organizations involved in gender equality, human rights, and peacebuilding in Ukraine and Europe. The interdisciplinary nature of the publication, which integrates research from politics, law, sociology, international relations, economics, and pedagogy, makes it applicable to both general and specialized courses. It is dedicated to researchers and students in the social sciences, offering key insights for courses in gender studies, political science, international relations, human rights studies, eastern policy of EU, development studies, and European integration, and providing a foundation for critical reflection on gender equality policies and EU integration.

Agata Włodkowska is Professor in the Institute of Research in the discipline of Political Science and Administration, Vistula University, Warsaw, Poland.

Maryana Prokop is Assistant Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Public Policy, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland.

Oleksandra Struk is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Security Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.