Dynamics of Gender Stereotypes in the Ukrainian Linguistic Worldview
Abstract
The article analyzes the dynamics of gender stereotypes in the Ukrainian linguistic worldview. The aim of the study is to identify the peculiarities of the perception and reproduction of gender stereotypes in Ukrainian linguistic worldview. In particular, it aims to find out which gender stereotypes are fixed in Ukrainian paremias and, through an experimental survey, compare them with modern Ukrainians’ ideas regarding the stereotypical perception of men and women.
The analysis of Ukrainian proverbs and sayings shows that traditional images of women and men are deeply rooted. The female image in paremias is mostly limited to the domestic sphere (hearth mother, housewife), where diligence is the main indicator of value, while psychological stereotypes emphasize emotionality, talkativeness, and inconstancy. The image of a man is represented through the roles of the breadwinner, a strong and financially responsible person, although some contexts record the possibility of female influence. Marriage in paremias is often interpreted as a union with a clear division of roles, where the man is the ‘head’ and the woman is the ‘soul’.
An experimental study conducted in 2025 made it possible to trace the transformation of these ideas in modern linguistic consciousness. The survey results confirmed the persistence of traditional stereotypes, such as the emotionality of women and their role of a housewife, alongside the strength of men and their role in supporting the family. However, the study also new prescriptive attitudes. Modern stereotypes include prejudices regarding women’s ability to drive a car, mandatory nature of motherhood, and idealization of appearance. Regarding men, modern stereotypes impose prohibitions on the expression of emotions (‘men don't cry’) and limit the choice of activities that fall outside traditional masculinity, such as painting nails or playing with dolls.
Downloads
References
Akimova, L. (2019). Gender Stereotypes and Gender Identity of the Individual. Collection of Scientific Papers ‘Problems of Modern Psychology. 15, 28–138. [in Ukrainian].
Venhryniuk, M. I., & Melnyk, O. M. (2021). Peculiarities of Verbalization of Ethnic and Gender Stereotypes in the Publication ‘The Bookseller of Kabul’ by Åsne Seierstad. Scientific Notes of V.I. Vernadsky Taurida National University. Series: Philology. Journalism. Vol. 32 (71), No. 4, Part 2, 12–17. [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.32838/2710-4656/2021.4-2/03.
Berezovskyi, I. P. (Ed.). (1961). Live and Learn. Kyiv: Radianska shkola. [in Ukrainian].
Havrylova, V. (2015). Theoretical Principles of Studying Paremias. Scientific Notes of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University. 7, 11–20. [in Ukrainian].
Maierchyk, M. et al. (Eds.). (2013). Gender for Media: Textbook. Kyiv: Krytyka. [in Ukrainian].
Demchenko, O. I., & Rybalka, Ya. I. (2014). Gender Stereotypes in the Literature of the 20th Century (Based on Pavlo Hlazovyi’s Works). Journal “Ukrainian Sense”. 1.
URL: https://ukrsense.dp.ua/index.php/USENSE/article/view/74 [in Ukrainian].
Alieksieienko, T. F. et al. (2012). Encyclopedia for Social Sphere Specialists. Kyiv; Simferopol: Universum. [in Ukrainian].
Zahnitko, A. P., & Bohdanova, I. V. (2017). Linguoculturology: Textbook for Higher Education Students. 3rd ed. Vinnytsia: Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University. [in Ukrainian].
Kalko, V., & Kalko, M. (2023). The Devil Is Not So Terrible as He Is Painted: Paremia and Antiparemia in Modern Ukrainian Linguistic Space. Slavia Orientalis. 72 (1), 157–172. [in Ukrainian].
Kaminska, N. V., Cherniavskyi, S. S., & Perunova, O. S. (2020). Principles of Understanding Gender and Gender Equality: Lecture. Kyiv: National Academy of Internal Affairs. [in Ukrainian].
Kuravska, N. (2018). Gender Stereotypes as a Source of Gender Discrimination and Sexism. Collection of Scientific Papers: Psychology. No. 22, 55–62. [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.15330/psp.22.55-62.
Makoviychuk, L. V. (2025). Gender Stereotypes and Their Influence on Linguistic Identity. Scientific Notes. Series: Philological Sciences. 212, 180–185. [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-4077-2025-212-26.
Martsenyuk, T. (2017). Gender for Everyone. Challenging Stereotypes. Kyiv: Osnovy. [in Ukrainian].
Martsenyuk, T. O. (2009). Gender Stereotypes of Outdoor Advertising (Case Study of Podil, Kyiv). Scientific Notes of NaUKMA. Sociology. 96, 82–88. [in Ukrainian].
Moskalenko, V. (2008). Social Psychology: Textbook. 2nd ed. Kyiv: Center of Educational Literature. [in Ukrainian].
Muzyka, M. (2017). Paremia as a Unit of Human Linguistic Consciousness (Based on an Associative Experiment). Linguistic and Conceptual Pictures of the World. 59, 148–154. [in Ukrainian].
Foundations of Gender Theory: Training Manual. (2004). Kyiv: ‘K.I.S.’. [in Ukrainian].
Reznik, A. (2025). Gender Stereotypes and Patriarchal Discourse in the Phraseology of the Ukrainian Language. Young Researcher. 7, 112–118. [in Ukrainian].
Sukalenko, T. (2021). Gender Stereotypes in the Language of Modern Media. Problems of Humanities: Collection of Scientific Works of Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University. Series ‘Philology’. 48, 174–183. [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.24919/2522-4565.2021.48.23.
Sukalenko, T., & Shpetna, S. (2025). Gender Stereotypes in the Media Space: Typology and Reproduction Mechanisms. Acta Paedagogica Volynienses. 3, 129–135. [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.32782/apv/2025.3.19.
Tkachenko, V. T. (2021). Verbalization of Gender Stereotypes within the Linguistic Image of Holiday (Based on Ukrainian Soviet and Modern Publicism). The Journal of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series ‘Philology’. 88, 116–122. [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.26565/2227-1864-2021-88-18.
Bobkova, V. (1963). Ukrainian Folk Proverbs and Sayings. Kyiv: Derzhavne Vydavnytstvo Khudozhnioi Literatury. [in Ukrainian].
Paziak, M. M. (2001). Ukrainian Proverbs, Sayings, and Comparisons from Literary Monuments. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka. [in Ukrainian].
Zubkov, S. D. et al. (Eds.). (1984). Ukrainian Proverbs and Sayings. Kyiv: Dnipro Publishing House. [in Ukrainian].
Shkitska, I. (2024). Reflection of Stereotypical Conceptions of Women in Paremias: Polish-Ukrainian Parallels. Language: Classic – Modern – Postmodern. 10, 136–161. [in Ukrainian].
Yanytska, O. M. (2017). The Concept of Symbol and Stereotype in the Linguoculturological Study of the Concept (Based on the Concept ‘FAITH’ in English, Ukrainian, and French). Scientific Bulletin of the International Humanitarian University. 31 (3), 89–91. URL: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/Nvmgu_filol_2017_31(3)__24 [in Ukrainian].
Allport, G. W. (1955). The Nature of Prejudice. Cambridge, Mass: Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.
Beukeboom, C. J., & Burgers, C. (2019). How Stereotypes are Shared Through Language: A Review and Introduction of the Social Categories and Stereotypes Communication (SCSC) Framework. Review of Communication Research. Vol. 7, 1–37.
Lippmann, W. (1997). Public Opinion. New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A: Transaction Publishers.
