DOCSLIB.ORG

Virtual' Brides in the Post-Soviet Context

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Virtual' Brides in the Post-Soviet Context University of Kentucky UKnowledge University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2007 VIRTUAL' BRIDES IN THE POST-SOVIET CONTEXT Michael Paul Begin University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Begin, Michael Paul, "VIRTUAL' BRIDES IN THE POST-SOVIET CONTEXT" (2007). University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations. 511. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/511 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION Michael Paul Bégin The Graduate School University of Kentucky 2007 1 ‘VIRTUAL’ BRIDES IN THE POST-SOVIET CONTEXT ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky by Michael Paul Bégin Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Wolfgang Natter, Professor of Geography Lexington, Kentucky 2007 Copyright © Michael Paul Bégin 2007 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION ‘VIRTUAL’ BRIDES IN THE POST-SOVIET CONTEXT This project offers a multifaceted, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the contemporary post-Soviet ‘Internet bride’ phenomenon and the rationales, motives, and aspirations of the industry’s participants. As international marriage services have incorporated information and communications technologies (ICTs) to assist in the marketing of women of post-communist nations for correspondence courtship with Western men, the industry has furthered the globalization of marriage markets and the opportunities for communicative exchange among disparate nations and cultures. By way of case study, the project takes a special focus on the Belarusian/American segment of the industry, turning to personal interviews with participants and employing qualitative techniques to dissect marketing methods. The study gives primary consideration to processes and elements of globalization, postmodern consumer culture, and aspects of human sexuality (particularly sexual exchange theory), recognizing their interactive and mutually-constitutive nature that calls for their analysis through a Baudrillardian lens. KEYWORDS: correspondence courtship, cyberspace, postmodernism, globalization, inequality MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS USED: GIF (.gif) Michael Paul Bégin January 9, 2007 ‘VIRTUAL’ BRIDES IN THE POST-SOVIET CONTEXT By Michael Paul Bégin Dr. Wolfgang Natter Director of Dissertation Dr. Richard Schein Director of Graduate Studies January 9, 2007 RULES FOR THE USE OF DISSERTATIONS Unpublished dissertations submitted for the Doctor’s degree and deposited in the University of Kentucky Library are as a rule open for inspection, but are to be used only with due regard to the rights of the authors. Bibliographical references may be noted, but quotations or summaries of parts may be published only with the permission of the author, and with the use of scholarly acknowledgements. Extensive copying or publication of the dissertation in whole or part also requires the consent of the Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Kentucky. DISSERTATION Michael Paul Bégin The Graduate School University of Kentucky 2007 ‘VIRTUAL’ BRIDES IN THE POST-SOVIET CONTEXT __________________________________ DISSERTATION __________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky by Michael Paul Bégin Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Wolfgang Natter, Professor of Geography Lexington, Kentucky 2007 Copyright © Michael Paul Bégin 2007 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to acknowledge my advisors for their support and expert consultation: Dr. Matthew Zook, Dr. Wolfgang Natter, and Dr. J. P. Jones III. Many thanks as well to Dr. Stan Brunn, Dr. Anna Secor, Dr. Cynthia Ruder, Dr. Jeff Peters, and Dr. Mike Uebel for their valuable input. The following people also merit profuse appreciation: Ms. Elena Nesteruk (La Strada, Belarus), Ms. Liudmila Blizniuk and the Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs, Mrs. J. Beth Ciesielski (Bridges For Education, Inc.), Irina Belmuch, Laurent and Fernande Begin (thanks Mom and Dad), Les and Gwynne Gabbard, Jeff Hall, Jeff and Amy Craig, Jennifer Mabry, Barbara Duncan, Wayne Klumpp, Roy and Sherri Phelps, Maureen McDorman, Andy Grimes, Davide Girardelli, Adel Iskandar, Steve Ward, Maria Moreno, and the fine folks at the Union Block Café (Hammondsport, NY). This work was made possible by all those who kindly contributed their time as study respondents, or as 2004 BFE volunteers in Belarus. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments………………………………..................................................iii List of Tables……………………………………………………...…………………….vii List of Figures……………………………….............................................................viii List of Files……………………………………………………………………………….ix Project Introduction…...………………………..............................................................x i.1 The post-Soviet ‘virtual bride’ phenomenon……………..…………….xiv i.2 Postmodern consumer culture, sexuality, and the ‘virtual’ bride…………………………………..……………………xv i.3 Problems and intentions………………………………………………xvii Chapter One: Contextualizing an Industry………………………...………..……...1 1.1 Country Descriptions…………………………...................................2 1.1.1 United States of America………………………………...........2 1.1.2 Republic of Belarus……………….……………….................4 1.2 The position of post-Soviet women.………………….…………………....9 1.2.1 Changes and Challenges…...…………………………………….10 1.2.2 New positions in new economies: image and identity in transition……….…………..…..……….13 1.3 Marriage online: tapping into the post-Soviet market………………16 1.4 Online opportunity? The Internet 'mail-order' process for women clients………………………………..................................................19 1.5 Seduced into participation? The online ‘mail-order’ process for men clients……………………………….....................................21 1.6 A look at marketing language……………………………….............24 Chapter Two: ‘Virtual Brides’ in Global Cultural Space…..…………………….30 2.1 Integrating the social and the spatial……………………….………..30 2.2 A dissolution of boundaries: integrative opportunities in thirdspace………………………..………………………………………..31 2.3 On sexuality…………………………………………………............32 2.3.1 Cyberspace, cybersexuality and seduction…………..……33 2.3.2 Cybersexuality and the ‘virtual bride’ industry………...…35 2.3.3 Sexuality and global cultural space………………….…….36 2.3.4 Sexuality, orientalism, and the postcolonial..……………..38 2.3.5 Sexual exchange theory……………………….…………..40 2.4 On postmodern consumer culture………………………….………..43 iv 2.4.1 Simulation and consumption………….…………………………...44 2.4.2 Seduction, postmodern consumer culture, and sexuality………………………………………………48 2.5 On globalization………………………………………………………….….50 2.5.1 Mediazation, cyberspace, and globalization………………51 2.5.2 Globalization, cyberspace, and global cultural space……………………………………………..................……..54 Chapter Three: Locating ‘Virtual Brides’ in a Globalized Milieu………………………56 3.1 Globalization and 'virtual bride' markets……………………..……..…..56 3.2 Case in point: a chat with ‘Helen’………………..…….……...……….........59 3.3 Marriage markets and ‘placeless’ place……………………………..61 3.4 Emigration and considerations of place……………………………..63 3.5 Working in Belarus……………………………….............................64 3.6 On positionality……………………………….….................................68 Chapter Four: Risk, Reward, and the ‘Virtual’ Relation: Random Takes...…………..…71 4.1 A hypothetical scenario (in two takes)…………………………….….….71 4.2 Criminal connections? Talking to an insider…………………………….73 4.3 Contending with hardships in ‘old’ worlds; mitigating them in ‘new’ spaces…………………………...………….………….….…79 4.4 From secondspace to thirdspace: connections to romance tourism……………………………………...…..….......…83 4.4.1 In the space between the imagined and the‘real’…………………..…………………………………...83 4.4.2 Case in point……………………………………………………....85 Chapter Five: Reading ‘Virtual Brides’……………………………………………..…87 5.1 Mordinson.com ………………..………………..…...............................87 5.2 Oksanalove.com ……………………….…….…...............................89 5.3 Chanceforlove.com …………………………….................................92 5.4 The struggle to correspond: ‘John’ and ‘Katya’……………….…...........95 5.5 Analysis of representation through sign…...……………………….…99 5.6 Analysis of utterance………………………………….........................104 Chapter Six: Project Conclusions………………………………...................................107 Appendix (Interview Transcripts)……………………………………............................119 Manager, “AngelikaMinsk” marriage agency………………………….120 ‘Liudmila’ (marriage agency client)………………………………...…126 ‘Natalia’ (marriage agency client)……………………………………..129 ‘Scott’ (former marriage agency client)………………………………..131 v ‘Helen’ (marriage agency client)………………………………………136 Inna (Introduction Manager, “Viktoria” marriage agency)…………….142 Irina Belmuch (Associate Interpreter, “European Connections” marriage agency)...…………………………………………………............…147 Elena Nesteruk (Program Manager, La Strada International, Belarus chapter)…………………………………………….............…152 ‘Lena’ (marriage agency client)………………………….…………….158 Oksana Boychenko (Owner/Director, “OksanaLove”
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pension Reforms in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe: Legislation, Implementation and Sustainability
    Department of Political and Social Sciences Pension Reforms in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe: Legislation, Implementation and Sustainability Igor Guardiancich Thesis submitted for assessment with a view to obtaining the degree of Doctor of Political and Social Sciences of the European University Institute Florence, October 2009 EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE Department of Political and Social Sciences Pension Reforms in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe: Legislation, Implementation and Sustainability Igor Guardiancich Thesis submitted for assessment with a view to obtaining the degree of Doctor of Political and Social Sciences of the European University Institute Examining Board: Prof. Martin Rhodes, University of Denver/formerly EUI (Supervisor) Prof. Nicholas Barr, London School of Economics Prof. Martin Kohli, European University Institute Prof. Tine Stanovnik, Univerza v Ljubljani © 2009, Igor Guardiancich No part of this thesis may be copied, reproduced or transmitted without prior permission of the author Guardiancich, Igor (2009), Pension Reforms in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe: Legislation, implementation and sustainability European University Institute DOI: 10.2870/1700 Guardiancich, Igor (2009), Pension Reforms in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe: Legislation, implementation and sustainability European University Institute DOI: 10.2870/1700 Acknowledgments No PhD dissertation is a truly individual endeavour and this one is no exception to the rule. Rather it is a collective effort that I managed with the help of a number of people, mostly connected with the EUI community, to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude. In particular, I would like to thank all my interviewees, my supervisors Prof. Martin Rhodes and Prof. Martin Kohli, as well as Prof. Tine Stanovnik for continuing intellectual support and invaluable input to the thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    UNAIDS 2019 United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Unified Budget Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) 2016-2021 Organizational report 2018 2 Contents Key strategies and approaches 2 Highlights of results 2 Key achievements by SRA 4 Financial information 10 Case study: addressing gender-based violence and enhancing HIV resilience in South Africa 12 Knowledge products 13 1 Key strategies and approaches UN Women was created in July 2010 to promote gender equality not only as an inalienable human right but also as a central tenet of social, economic and cultural development. UN Women provides a consistent and resonant voice for women and girls at local, regional and global levels and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on five high-priority areas: increasing women’s leadership and participation; ending violence against women; engaging women in peace and security processes; enhancing women’s economic empowerment; and making gender equality central to national development planning and budgeting. UN Women is a Cosponsor of UNAIDS. Its strategic approach to HIV addresses the challenges that stem from unequal power relations between women and men. UN Women provides technical and financial support to Member States and women’s organizations, particularly organizations of women living with HIV, to: ▪ integrate gender equality into the governance of the HIV response, ensuring national HIV strategies are informed by sex- and age-disaggregated data and gender analyses and are inclusive of gender-responsive actions, budgets and monitoring and evaluation frameworks; ▪ amplify the voice and leadership of women and girls in all their diversity to meaningfully engage in decision-making in HIV responses at all levels; ▪ scale up what works in tackling the root causes of gender inequalities, including addressing the intersections between HIV and violence against women and promoting women’s economic empowerment to prevent HIV and mitigate its impact.
    [Show full text]
  • Women in Times of Change, 1989-2009 the Publication Was Elaborated Within the Framework of the Regional Program “Gender Democracy/ Women’S Politics”
    Poland, Czech Republic, The twentieth anniversary of the 1989 breakthrough is an occasion for summaries. In spite of the twenty years of democratic transformation, Slovakia, women did not manage to reduce their distance from men enough for East Germany their voice to be clearly heard in public debate. Furthermore, the account of the past two decades, as seen from the women's perspective, is not 1989-2009 and Ukraine exactly in tune with the celebratory anniversary atmosphere. It is a para- dox that for women in the former Eastern Bloc the freedom regained in 1989 was often combined with significant limitations of economic, social and reproductive rights. In the face of the lack of public debate on the role of women in the time of transformation, the publication of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Warsaw attempts to present a multidimensional dialogue about the transformation experiences, giving voice to women. The Authors of the publication judge Women in Times the past twenty years of reforms from the point of view of women from the former countries of the Eastern Bloc: the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, of Change, 1989-2009 Ukraine and former East Germany, and in this context, from the perspec- tive of personal experiences. At the same time, the publication constitutes a platform for inter-generational dialogue. In the publication, personal texts meet more theoretical reflections, and literary accounts often complement more objective attempts to describe the past twenty years. Women in Times of Change, Heinrich Böll Foundation Regional Office Warsaw ul. Żurawia 45, 00-680 Warsaw, Poland phone: + 48 22 59 42 333, e-mail: [email protected] Heinrich Böll Foundation Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, East Germany and Ukraine Women in Times of Change, 1989-2009 The publication was elaborated within the framework of the Regional Program “Gender Democracy/ Women’s Politics”.
    [Show full text]
  • Full Study (In English)
    The Long Shadow of Donbas Reintegrating Veterans and Fostering Social Cohesion in Ukraine By JULIA FRIEDRICH and THERESA LÜTKEFEND Almost 400,000 veterans who fought on the Ukrainian side in Donbas have since STUDY returned to communities all over the country. They are one of the most visible May 2021 representations of the societal changes in Ukraine following the violent conflict in the east of the country. Ukrainian society faces the challenge of making room for these former soldiers and their experiences. At the same time, the Ukrainian government should recognize veterans as an important political stakeholder group. Even though Ukraine is simultaneously struggling with internal reforms and Russian destabilization efforts, political actors in Ukraine need to step up their efforts to formulate and implement a coherent policy on veteran reintegration. The societal stakes are too high to leave the issue unaddressed. gppi.net This study was funded by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine. The views expressed therein are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the official position of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The authors would like to thank several experts and colleagues who shaped this project and supported us along the way. We are indebted to Kateryna Malofieieva for her invaluable expertise, Ukraine-language research and support during the interviews. The team from Razumkov Centre conducted the focus group interviews that added tremendous value to our work. Further, we would like to thank Tobias Schneider for his guidance and support throughout the process. This project would not exist without him. Mathieu Boulègue, Cristina Gherasimov, Andreas Heinemann-Grüder, and Katharine Quinn-Judge took the time to provide their unique insights and offered helpful suggestions on earlier drafts.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Book
    84 823 65 Special thanks to the Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies for assistance in getting access to archival data. The author also expresses sincere thanks to the International Consortium "EuroBelarus" and the Belarusian Association of Journalists for information support in preparing this book. Photos by ByMedia.Net and from family albums. Aliaksandr Tamkovich Contemporary History in Faces / Aliaksandr Tamkovich. — 2014. — ... pages. The book contains political essays about people who are well known in Belarus and abroad and who had the most direct relevance to the contemporary history of Belarus over the last 15 to 20 years. The author not only recalls some biographical data but also analyses the role of each of them in the development of Belarus. And there is another very important point. The articles collected in this book were written at different times, so today some changes can be introduced to dates, facts and opinions but the author did not do this INTENTIONALLY. People are not less interested in what we thought yesterday than in what we think today. Information and Op-Ed Publication 84 823 © Aliaksandr Tamkovich, 2014 AUTHOR’S PROLOGUE Probably, it is already known to many of those who talked to the author "on tape" but I will reiterate this idea. I have two encyclopedias on my bookshelves. One was published before 1995 when many people were not in the position yet to take their place in the contemporary history of Belarus. The other one was made recently. The fi rst book was very modest and the second book was printed on classy coated paper and richly decorated with photos.
    [Show full text]
  • Racialized Sexualities Within the Romance Tour Industry: the Influence of Affect and Emotion Upon Transnational Hierarchies of Desire Julia H
    Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations University Graduate School 6-24-2014 Racialized Sexualities within the Romance Tour Industry: the Influence of Affect and Emotion Upon Transnational Hierarchies of Desire Julia H. Meszaros Florida International University, [email protected] DOI: 10.25148/etd.FI14071123 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Meszaros, Julia H., "Racialized Sexualities within the Romance Tour Industry: the Influence of Affect and Emotion Upon Transnational Hierarchies of Desire" (2014). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1458. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1458 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the University Graduate School at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida RACIALIZED SEXUALITIES WITHIN THE ROMANCE TOUR INDUSTRY: THE INFLUENCE OF AFFECT AND EMOTION UPON TRANSNATIONAL HIERARCHIES OF DESIRE A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in GLOBAL AND SOCIOCULTURAL STUDIES by Julia Meszaros 2014 To: Interim Dean Michael R. Heithaus College of Arts and Sciences This dissertation, written by Julia Meszaros, and entitled Racialized Sexualities within the Romance Tour Industry: the Influence of Affect and Emotion
    [Show full text]
  • Ukraine Gender Review Are To
    34975 Public Disclosure Authorized UKRAINE GENDER REVIEW Public Disclosure Authorized by Nora Dudwick Radhika Srinivasan, Jeanine Braithwaite Public Disclosure Authorized ECSSD February 2002 Public Disclosure Authorized TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................4 BACKGROUND: TEN YEARS OF TRANSITION .........................................................4 OBJECTIVES OF THIS REVIEW ................................................................................5 METHODS............................................................................................................6 GENDER AND POVERTY IN UKRAINE: 2000.............................................8 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................8 POVERTY RATES, GENDER, AGE, AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE ...................................11 LOCATION AND GENDER....................................................................................12 MATERIAL POVERTY: NUTRITION AND HOUSING.................................................12 Malnutrition .................................................................................................13 Housing type, ownership, and access to services.........................................14 CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS.....................................................................15 TABLES..............................................................................................................16
    [Show full text]
  • Herstory Revisionism
    BALTIC WORLDSBALTIC A scholarly journal and news magazine. December 2017. Vol. X:4. Personal diaries on From the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES), Södertörn University. the Russian Revolution December Vol. 2017. X:4 BALTIC WORLDSbalticworlds.com Herstory Revisionism Herstory Revisionism. Revisionism. Herstory • National heroines Writings and the “herstorical turn” and views • Gendered remembrance of political upheavals Women’s participation in political upheavals political in participation Women’s on women • Narratives of norm- warriors breaking women also in this issue Illustration: Karin Sunvisson UKRAINIAN WORRIES / AVANT-GARDE ART / ORIENTAL “OTHER” / NEGOTIATING NORD STREAM / NUCLEAR LEGACY Sponsored by the Foundation BALTIC2 for Baltic and East European Studies contents 3 colophon Baltic Worlds is published by WORLDSbalticworlds.com the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University, Sweden. Editor-in-chief Ninna Mörner editorial in this issue Publisher Joakim Ekman Scholarly advisory council Thomas Andrén, Södertörn History, herstory and other stories … University; Sari Autio-Sarasmo, Aleksanteri Institute, Helsinki n this issue of Baltic Worlds, we present presented as custodians of the na- Universiy; Sofie Bedford, IRES, a selection of diary entries from 1917 in tion, or — in the opposite image — as theme Uppsala University; Michael Russia, the year of the Revolution. It is a enlightened, independent women interview Gentile, Oslo University; Markus 4 Anti-genderism. Feminism in fascinating read, with depictions of a tu- who leave family, country, and ide- Huss (chair), Stockholm University; Poland, Eva Karlberg Herstory Revisionism. Imultuous, epochal event, recorded by men and ology in order to shatter the exist- Katarina Leppänen, University of Women’s participation women known and unknown, revolutionaries ing order, associating danger with peer-reviewed in political upheavals Gothenburg; Thomas Lundén, and their detractors; with everything from ob- emancipation.
    [Show full text]
  • Women's Rights in Ukraine
    WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN UKRAINE Myroslava Antonovych INTRODUCTION The independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union in 1991 meant not only political liberation but the assumption of new obligations concerning human rights. Questions arose in Ukraine regarding Ukraine's existing treaty commitments and the possible ratification of new human rights treaties. By 1995, Ukraine's human rights record received a better-than-passing grade in the U.S. Department of State's Country Report on Human Rights Practices.1 Yet, much remains to be done in the sphere of human rights in Ukraine, particularly concerning the human rights of women. A review of the literature on women's issues in Ukraine showed that the legal rights of Ukrainian women have not been the subject of separate research. However, there are several publications which focus on the role of women in Ukrainian public life.2 Further, several books and papers are devoted to famous Ukrainian women who played important roles in Ukrainian and world political affairs.3 Numerous mono- graphs reveal the status of women in the Soviet Union.4 Furthermore, articles regard- 1. 1 U.S. DEPT OF STATE, COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1995 (Mar. 1996). In March 1996, this report was submitted to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Senate, and to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives. iSeeYaro Bihun, State Department Says Ukraine Makes Progress on Human Rights, UKRAINIAN WEEKLY, Mar. 24, 1996, at 1. 2. MARTHA BOHACHEVSKY-CHOMIAK, FEMINISTS DESPITE THEMSELVES: WOMEN IN UKRAINIAN COM MUNITY LIFE 1884-1939 (1988); MARTHA BOHACHEVSKY-CHOMIAK, DUMA UKRAINY: ZHINOCHOHO RODU (1993) (Duma of Ukraine of the Feminine Gender), which includes a section entitled, Women, History, and Human Rights.
    [Show full text]
  • What Works for Women and Girls: Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions
    WHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions whatworksforwomen.org WHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions www.whatworksforwomen.org June 2010 Authors: Jill Gay, MA Karen Hardee, PhD Melanie Croce-Galis, RN, MPH Shannon Kowalski, MPA with Chanelle Gutari, MPH Claire Wingfi eld, MPH Kimberly Rovin, MPH Kristine Berzin Suggested citation: Gay, J. 1, Hardee, K. 2, Croce-Galis, M. 3, Kowalski, S. 4, Gutari, C. 5, Wingfi eld, C. 6, Rovin, K. 7, Berzins, K. 8. 2010. What Works for Women and Girls: Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions. New York: Open Society Institute. www.whatworksforwomen.org Copyright © Open Society Institute. All rights reserved. 1 Public Health Consultant 2 Vice President for Research, Population Action International 3 Global Health Consultant, Artemis Global Consulting 4 Senior Program Offi cer, Open Society Institute 5 MPH candidate, The George Washington University 6 TB/HIV Project Coordinator, Treatment Action Group 7 Ph.D. Student, Michigan State University and Former Research Associate, Population Action International 8 Research Analyst, Population Action International 2 Acknowledgements Compiling a research review of this magnitude would not be possible without the expert input and support of a wide group of people. The authors are extremely grateful to the following reviewers, including those who participated in a review meeting hosted by the Open Society Institute in Cape Town, South Africa on February 17–19, 2010. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Ph.D. Associate Scientifi c Director Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) South Africa Avni Amin, Ph.D. Technical Offi cer Department of Gender l Women and Health l World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland Jayne Arnott Consultant Cape Town, South Africa Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH Director Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health & Human Rights Baltimore, MD, USA A.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender and Conflict in Ukraine
    Helpdesk Report Gender and conflict in Ukraine Brian Lucas, Brigitte Rohwerder, and Kerina Tull 23.02.2017 Question Provide an overview of gender roles, dynamics and impacts in the Ukraine conflict, including humanitarian impacts, social impacts, the role of women as conflict actors, and structural factors and causes of tension and conflict insofar as they relate to gender roles and dynamics. Contents Overview Humanitarian impacts Social impacts Women as conflict actors Women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding Women’s political and economic empowerment References Overview The conflicts in eastern and southern Ukraine constitute a significant humanitarian crisis for the country and the region, with at least 1.7 million internally displaced persons, two-thirds of whom are women (UNOCHA 2016, p. 7; UNHCR 2015, p. 5) and approximately 1.5 million people seeking asylum or other forms of legal stay in neighbouring countries (UNHCR 2016, p. 7). Women are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrated by armed groups, although GBV does not appear to be systematically or widely used by either side as a weapon of war (OHCHR 2017a; UNOCHA 2016; OSCE 2015). Human trafficking, including trafficking of women for sexual exploitation, is endemic and has been exacerbated by the conflict (OHCHR 2017b). There is some limited evidence that the conflicts may have led to an increase in the prevalence of domestic violence (UNFPA 2015; UNOCHA 2015; OSCE 2015). However, domestic violence remains largely a hidden problem and incidents frequently go unreported (UNFPA 2015). The conflicts in the country have tended to reinforce traditional conservative gender roles. There has been a tendency for women to return to more traditional gender roles and patriarchal models The K4D helpdesk service provides brief summaries of current research, evidence, and lessons learned.
    [Show full text]
  • By Iryna Koshulap Submitted to the Central European University
    WOMEN, NATION, AND THE GENERATION GAP: DIASPORIC ACTIVISM OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL WOMEN’S LEAGUE OF AMERICA IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA By Iryna Koshulap Submitted to the Central European University Department of Gender Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Supervisor: Professor Allaine Cerwonka CEU eTD Collection Budapest, Hungary 2013 Statement I hereby state that the thesis contains no materials accepted for any other degrees in any other institutions. The thesis contains no materials previously written and/or published by another person, except where appropriate acknowledgment is made in the form of bibliographical reference. Budapest, June 7, 2013 Iryna Koshulap CEU eTD Collection ©2013. Iryna Koshulap. All rights reserved. ii Abstract The present study examines a co-formative relationship between the diasporic and women‘s activism of the Ukrainian National Women‘s League of America at the time of Ukraine‘s independence. Founded in 1925, this voluntary-based non-profit organization of Ukrainian migrant women and women of Ukrainian descent has carried out philanthropic, educational, and cultural activities along with political protests and lobbying, taking a recognized place among organizations of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States. Having been a women‘s organization in the Ukrainian diaspora and an ethnic organization in American and international women‘s movements from its inception, the UNWLA often considered its participation in international women‘s forums instrumental in promoting the cause of Ukraine‘s sovereignty. Instead of withdrawing from this arena in the early years of Ukraine‘s independence, however, the UNWLA started to adopt the women‘s rights and equality discourses for generating relations with the state and non-state actors in Ukraine and for conceptualizing a vision for the organization‘s future.
    [Show full text]