Transformation of gender stereotypes in Ukrainian literature: evolution of the models of masculinity and femininity

Abstract

This article studies the transformation of female and male stereotypes in Ukrainian prose, as well as how literary texts construct, reinforce, or confirm them. The relevance of this work is determined by the need to understand the historical development of gender models in literature, the evolution of gender stereotypes that influence social perceptions of roles and behavioral norms, as well as the need to rethink the classical canon in the context of gender studies. The purpose of the article is to provide a comprehensive explanation of the transformations that feminine and masculine images undergo under the influence of political and sociocultural processes. The key task is to identify the patterns that determine the transition from standard models of behavior associated with stereotypical perceptions of gender to individualized, psychologically and socially complex forms of subjectivity. The methodological basis of the study is a combination of the comparative-typological method, which allows comparing literary works from different periods, revealing changes in the images of masculinity and femininity; the method of contextual analysis, which allows studying how gender stereotypes are reflected in the context of historical, political, and cultural changes that influence social perceptions; and a gender approach that focuses on analyzing gender roles through the lens of gender studies, examining how literary images reinforce or change stereotypes about the roles of men and women. The analytical corpus covers works by H. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko, I. Karpenko-Kary, O. Kobylianska, V. Pidmohylny, O. Zabuzhko, Y. Andrukhovych, and a number of other authors. The selection of texts for analysis is justified by the fact that they are representative of their time and remain relevant to readers today, which allows them to be considered representative models of literary representations of gender in different historical periods.

The study proved that gender stereotypes in Ukrainian literature have undergone a significant transformation: from patriarchal models, in which women were deprived of subjectivity, and men were perceived only as masters or warriors, to diverse constructs that emphasize individual freedom, education, internal conflict, and multidimensionality. In early 20th-century texts, the image of women as individuals seeking education and self-realization appears, while male images are modernized, reflecting the crisis of masculinity. Postmodern literature deconstructs established gender roles and forms new, often ironic or fragmented models of identity.

The scientific novelty of the work lies in rethinking gender dynamics through interperiod comparisons and in substantiating the interdependence between literary images and changes in social perceptions. The practical significance of the study is related to the potential integration of the findings into the broader discourse of gender studies, as well as into the teaching of Ukrainian literature and literary theory. Prospects for further research include the analysis of gender strategies in 21st-century literature, as well as the possibility of comparing Ukrainian literary material with other postcolonial traditions to identify common and specific patterns in the transformation of gender models.