WOMEN’S DAY

Of course, in this part of the world women could do the same work as men, as long as they then went home and did all the traditional «women’s work,» like cooking and cleaning, while the husband watched TV. In traditionally female occupations like physician and schoolteacher, it is not unusual that 90% of the staff is female with a peppering of men, usually including the director. Some equality.

In reality, Ukraine’s women have a hard lot. Kyiv only recently opened its first shelter for battered women, who have never been in short supply here. Declining living standards means rising stress as people have to work harder and longer for less money. A popular way to cope with stress in this part of the world has always been alcohol abuse. And when a drunk husband turns surly, he can wind up beating the wife and kids to a pulp. And most abused wives have no place to go.

The waiting line for state housing is well over ten years, which means most young couples wind up living in cramped quarters with their parents through their peak childbearing years. This and the fact that children are expensive mean that families have less children with one child families the norm and the number of childless families growing. As a result, the country is slowly being depopulated, having lost a million and a half population since 1991.

Ukraine has done well to celebrate its women on their special day. Now if someone would pay some real attention to their problems.