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UKRAINIAN WOMAN OUR ENGLISH COLUMN Landmarks of progress of Ukrainian women The 19th century found Ukraine div ided. The eastern part, and a larger one, was under Russia, while the smaller one formed three provinces of Austria-Hun gary. Within its land the Ukrainian peo ple could not live its own way of life. Yet liberal movement's in Western Europe, of the early 19th century, showed the- people the direction and then began the march toward its rebirth as a nation. Against this' background rose likewise the Uk rainian woman. Even at the very begin ning of this movement she was aware of the meaning of feminist movement and was striding her own pathway to ward her goal. 1812—Up till that time there had been no high schools for girls in Ukrainian lands. In Kharkiv, Eastern Ukraine, an institute for girls was founded where lessons in foreign languages and other sub jects had been given. The first Ukrainian poetess, Martha Pisarevska (1799-1874) was a pupil of this institute. 1856—The Ukrainian peasant remained a serf. His position differed but a little from that of the slave; he was attached to the land of the landowner and was transferred with it. The plight of the wo man in serfdom was described by the Ukrainian au thoress Marko Vovchok (Maria Markovich) in her short stories which were translated into several languages. Their artistic strength had an immedi ate appeal to the world’s conscience. 1859—A group of progressives planned to el evate the common man through education. There were attempts at creating Sunday schools, first in Kiev and then in Kharkiv. Shortly the number of such schools rose to go. There were many women among educators and teachers. The Sunday school at Kharkiv distinguished itself under guiding by Al- chevska, the first Sunday school for women at Kiev was founded by Nelhovska. The school existed for three years. They were closed by the Russian Czar- ist government which considered them as liberal in stitutions. 1860—The right of admission of women to uni versities was won (at Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa). Many young girls enrolled and began their studies, but the czarist government took alarm of great influx and revoked this right after two years, so that even those who registered, had no chance to finish their studies. Only two valiant women went to Zurich, Switzerland, to graduate, and after examinations in St. Petersburg were permitted to practice as phy sicians. I860—The abolition of serfdom in Russia freed the masses of peasants. This gesture brought them some measure of freedom, still the illiteracy re mained and the village continued in the state of backwardness. 1870—The “populist” movement begins. The progressive circles were advancing slogans for rais ing the level of education and ecpnomic well-being of the peasants and workingmen. Many wom^n took part in this movement. Soms were studying the way of life of the village so as to present the pic ture of its culture and economy. Others went to the villages to work as teachers and midwives. Among them were some of note, e.g. Pelahia Litvinova, a statistician, who wrote several books on the way of life of the village. Olena Pchilka, (1850-1930) an authoress, pub lished the first album of Ukrainian embroidery (1875). Sophia Russova, (1856-1940) a pedagog and scholar who organized the first kindergarten in Kiev, and was also working in the villages for the cause of their advancement. 1880—Institutes of higher learning (colleges for girls) were opened in Kiev and Kharkiv, which drew masses of youth ready to serve their people. 1884—Th necessity of a women’s organization was being felt in Ukraine. Thus in Kiev a circle was formed among the students of the institutes of higher learning for girls in Kiev by Olena Dobroha- veva, and in Stanislaviv, West Ukraine, the first Ukrainian women’s organization was instituted by Natalie Kobrinska, whose objective was promotion in education. This date is considered by Ukrainian women as the beginning of the Ukrainian feminist movement. Subsequently Ukrainian women’s societies were being formed in various centers which had as their objectives educational, cultural and profes sional activities. 1887—The Ukrainian press devoted more space to the discussion of the problems of women’s orga nization. There was felt the necessity of publication of reviews by the women themselves. Then, under direction of Natalie Kobrinska and Olena Pchilka was published the first Ukrainian women’s almanac “First Garland” which contained articles on the
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