Gender Inequality in Access to Leadership Positions in Ukraine’s Public Sector

Abstract

While notable strides have been made to pursue gender equality through legal avenues, public administration leadership in Ukraine is still overwhelmingly male-dominated. This research analyzes why attaining gender equality in leadership is not simply a formal requirement, but also a key consideration for Ukraine's development as a democratic and resilient state, especially in the war and post-war context.

It outlines how social and historical factors contribute to entrenched gender inequalities in public service. It discusses how the full-scale war has continued to transmit masculine leadership values and deepen the barriers already in place. It brings to attention a new informal space of leadership, where women are beginning to be visible, albeit at the same time not institutionally supported. Attention will also be paid to the role of international legal standards and the degree to which those could be translated into Ukraine's legal system.

The research brings together legal analysis, cultural critique, and policy evaluation to make the case that leadership models need a deeper reimagining that really takes into account gender equity as a foundational aspect to democratic governance and the postwar recovery process.