ТОВАРИСТВО ЖІНОК З ВИЩОЮ ОСВІТОЮ ТА ЙОГО РОЛЬ У РОЗВИТКУ УКРАЇНСЬКОГО ЖІНОЧОГО РУХУ В ГАЛИЧИНІ У ПЕРШІЙ ПОЛОВИНІ ХХ СТОЛІТТЯ

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.).