The role of women in modern society

The status of women brings together the features of a country’s socio-political system and the level of its economy, culture, governance and legal norms; it responds sensitively to deep changes in all spheres, in public consciousness and in value orientations.

As in every era, there is debate everywhere today about the role of women in society, their social position and vocation.

One of the characteristic features of the development of the world community in recent decades has been increased attention to women’s issues.

This is shown, in particular, by the recognition of women’s rights as an exceptionally important part of human rights, the drafting and adoption of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979), the UN’s proclamation of International Women’s Year (1975), international and world conferences on the position of women in society, and support for progressive ways of combining motherhood with employment, and family duties with participation in public life.

One effective tool for putting this approach into practice in solving women’s pressing problems is social work.

The systematic and diverse measures taken in social work aim to ease a person’s adaptation to social norms, help them develop, realise and restore their vital strength, and ensure a dignified life and self-fulfilment.

It is precisely the role of women in solving many complex issues of their private and public lives that is the focus of a newly formed women’s association, Divergent Women in Tallinn

The organisation’s aims are:

• promoting gender equality,
• preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence,
• supporting women’s self-employment,
• promoting self-education among the population, with a focus on women,
• improving women’s mental and physical well-being,
• developing volunteering and support.

If you are interested in growth, putting your skills to use and an active approach to life, we are waiting for you.

Head of the NGO Divergent Women in Estonia:

Yelyzaveta Puzyrevska, 34.

Originally from Kremenchuk, Ukraine. Currently lives in Rakvere.

Yelyzaveta sees her tasks as:

• supporting and implementing the concept of conscious personal growth;
• studying, shaping and introducing mechanisms of resource support for victim protection programmes;
• raising business competence among women entrepreneurs;
• developing and introducing adapted supplementary general education programmes that promote women’s social and psychological rehabilitation.

“A woman can do anything! Nothing is impossible for her!

I know this from my own experience!” Ye. Puzyrevska.

_____________________________________________

Founder and head of the women’s organisation “Divergent Women” in Ukraine

Yuliia Tsybulska says this about the idea behind the organisation:

“Being an independent, self-reliant woman is hard. When you have your own opinion and understand that for your success you first of all need a strong you.

I want to help other women become stronger, financially independent and influential.

Of course, we can reach our goals alone, but together it is much easier, faster, more effective, more powerful and more noticeable for the whole of society.

After all, you can’t whistle a whole orchestra solo, can you? If you have the drive to work and not depend on others, if you feel inner resistance when someone imposes stereotypes and forces you to move only in the channel of social or your own beliefs, if you are the only one who believes in yourself – you are definitely one of us.”

Our heroines Yelyzaveta and Yuliia organised a kind of visiting programme for Ukrainian women, including a round table on a topical issue, getting to know the Ukrainian community of Estonia, and meetings with representatives of social movements and political parties concerned with the role of women in modern public life and defending women’s rights 

The first such warm meeting took place at the AUOE Cultural Centre with the heads of the Ukrainian community association in Estonia, a journalist and women who have successfully adapted to Estonian society and realised themselves creatively.

The programme for the young women from Ukraine in the Estonian capital is quite extensive. Despite limited conditions, our compatriots certainly have plenty to see and hear here in this friendly Baltic country, so they can then share their impressions at home. 

We sincerely wish our guests to fulfil all their hopes and to come to Estonia again and again at any convenient time – we will gladly welcome each of them!