MODERN REALITIES OF GENDER POLITICS IN THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE

Abstract

Problem setting. The immediacy of the problem of gender politics in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is caused by the following: general tendency of uptick in problems of gender politics in modern day society; increasing number of female soldiers and female workers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine; increasing number of military occupational specialties and positions which female soldiers are appointed on; dominance of obsolete stereotypes on place and role of women in the army; need for determination of essence and content of gender politics in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, priority directions of its implementation. Recent research and publications analysis. Works by N. Vavilova, N. Dubchak, O. Dy- achenko, N. Klimenko, V. Krotikova, V. Malyugy, O. Oleinik, V. Topalskogo highlight main theoretical and methodological research approaches to a problem of gender politics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Paying tribute to the conducted researches, it is necessary to state insufficient develop- ment of certain topical problems of gender politics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in modern day society. Paper objective. Based on the aforesaid, the purpose of the article is social and philo- sophic reflection of implementation of gender politics in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, determination of actual topical issues of gender politics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Paper main body. The author highlights few topical issues in implementation of gender politics in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in present-day conditions. The first problem is a problem of equality of men and women while on active service: limitations of positions which female soldiers can be appointed on; limitation of a woman’s right for military education majoring in certain specialties; differences in age restrictions when concluding a military service contract and age limits to be on military service; dif- ferences in military service between men and women depending on the number of children. The second problem is a problem of violating a principle of gender equity of male and female soldiers with respect to kinds of responsibility and a way of enduring the punish- ment for violating a certain military career structure: such kind of criminal penalty as custody in a penal battalion (it can be found in 13 sanctions and 36 regulations) is not enforced towards female solders; military confinement is not enforced towards female solders; female soldiers are not held liable for 9 kinds of military administrative violations. The third problem is a problem of violating a principle of gender equity of male and female soldiers with respect to performance of military duties: daily duty (female soldiers are not appointed for daily duties or they can be appointed to certain types of daily duty) and business trips (female soldiers who have children under 14 years old can be assigned to a business trip only upon their consent) Conclusions of the research. Therefore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are in need of effective and coherent gender politics which could correspond to modern global trends and promote to maximum personal self-fulfillment of both men and women for strengthen- ing the defence capability of the country, military battle readiness and operational effec- tiveness of the Ukrainian army. Gender politics in the Armed Forces of Ukraine must ensure equal rights, equal obligations, equal responsibilities of male and female soldiers.