Being a Ukrainian woman often blows. On the one hand, people perceive us as stupid whores. I can't tell you how many times people have asked me whether I was a mail-order bride or a prostitute immediately after I mentioned that I was from Ukraine. On the other hand, we make every effort to ensure that people keep perceiving us as stupid whores. Here is the most recent story that illustrates my point perfectly.
A radio station in New Zealand ran a contest titled "Win a Wife":
The Rock FM radio station ran the competition called Win a Wife, offering a 12-night trip - along with $2000 spending money - to Ukraine organised by a bride agency, Endless Love Agency, which says on its website it offers "beautiful genuine Ukraine ladies looking for love and marriage with Kiwi men". A winemaker named Greg was the winner and he is due in the Ukraine mining town of Donetsk later this month before also visiting another town called Zaporizhia. The prize does not include travel for the Ukraine woman to come to New Zealand.
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| Ukrainian feminists protesting the objectification of women |
That's Ukrainian feminism for you. It's doing wonders for the image of Ukrainian women all over the world.
9 comments:
This is not precisely on topic, but I have often been surprised to hear you describe Ukraine as a Third World country. I wopund never have thought any European country to be part of the Third World with the possible exception of Albania. The archetypical Third World countries, in my understanding, are Bangladesh or Afghanistan. Am I missing something, or am I just drawing the line at a different place.
I am definitely a feminist, and I come from Ukraine.
But I will never protest naked in public, for 2 reasons:
1. I don't loke public protests.
2. My naked body won't impress men - because I am a man.
Michael
Michael: it is always comforting to hear that you won't protest naked in public. :-)
Pagan Topologist: How would you refer to countries like mine then?
If you don't mind, I'll respond in a separate post because I have quite a few things to say here. Which isn't very unusual. :-)
I have never been to Ukraine, but my first instinct is to say First World. If pressed, I would admit that it is probably one of the less wealthy First World countries. I admit to being a little confused about what the designations mean, however. Wasn't the original designation that U. S. and Western Europe were the First World, the so-called Soviet bloc countries were the Second World, and everyone else was Third World? Then with the fall of the U. S. S. R. all of the wealthier countries shifted to First World, and the very poor ones to Third World, and the Second World no longer exists.
But, I suppose I am wrong. I had never tried to learn the precise terminology.
[Sorry. I reread my post and realized I had made an error in what I meant. This is a correction.]
Wouldn't that be technically a 2nd world country? The 1st world is the West, the second the Soviet Block (now formerly Soviet Block / Warsaw pact), and the 3rd everything else.
Initially, that's the way it was. We have slipped in the direction of 3rd worldness a lot since 1991.
"...and the Second World no longer exists."
-Mexico is considered a Second World country, for what it's worth.
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