The role of
the Society of Women with Higher Education in the development of the Ukrainian
women’s movement in Galicia has analyzed. The prerequisites that stimulated the
activation of the feminist movement in the region at the beginning of the 20th century
have been investigated (Habsburg educational reforms, in particular, women’s
access to higher education, the popularity of feminist ideas, the growth of
women’s public activity, its public interpretation as a component of the
struggle of Ukrainians for national rights, etc.). It has been emphasized that
after the First World War, a new stage in the development of the Ukrainian
women's movement began, which was characterized by a change in its goals,
consolidation and structuring, and at the same time differentiation (the
creation of new associations aimed at the professional realization of women).
The features of the formation of the Society of Women with Higher Education,
the goals and objectives of its activities, organizational issues, management
structure and changes in it during the period of the society's existence have
been considered. Special attention was paid to the contribution of the first
female officer, teacher, and scientist, Olena Stepaniv-Dashkevych in the
functioning of the Society. The main areas of activity of the society have been
analyzed, such as: financial and scientific support for female students
(organization of foreign language courses, scholarship assistance for higher
education, popularization of scientific research among women, assistance in the
publication of scientific research, articles, etc.); educational work
(organization of public lectures and essays, popularization of women's issues
in society); establishment of cooperation with international feminist
associations, integration into the world feminist movement (special emphasis on
cooperation with Ukrainian organizations and individual activists in
emigration).
The emphasis
was placed on the participation of the society in the public life of the
region, in particular cooperation/refusal of it/competition with Polish and
Ukrainian organizations, especially with the Union of Ukrainian Women. The main
problems that gradually led to the fading of the Society’s activities were
considered (material difficulties, lack of their own premises, small number of
members, most of them staying in the provinces, preference for passive
membership overactive membership, the policy of the Polish authorities towards
Ukrainian organizations, competition within the Ukrainian women's movement,
etc.).
