Genderstudies

(On ethnic stereotypes with respect to women of Central Asia, CIS, Western and Eastern countries)

Idea of this survey appeared after reading an article of Serbian researcher Svenka Savic “Women from national minority groups and hate speech”[i]. Unlike S.Savic, I didn’t focus on stereotypes issues in context of ethnic hostility. The aim of my survey was to obtain brief imaginative presentations of women of our region and women of other cultures (USA, Western Europe, Turkey, China, Japan), reflecting a real or assumed status of women in the society and family within their ethnic identity, demonstrated through characteristic features.

There was no task in this survey to compare social status and gender roles of women and men. Men were questioned as a control group of respondents to compare results. The survey has identified quite insignificant differences between the genders in perception of typical features of women of various ethnic groups.

Respondents were requested to answer a question “With which word or image do you associate the following words?”, enclosed with a list of 20 names of women of various ethnic groups (a Kazakh, a Russian, an American etc.)

The survey covered 85 people, 75 of them were women, 10 – men. 59 of them were citizens of Kazakhstan, 5 – of Kyrgyzstan, 5 – of Tajikistan, 4- of Russia, 3 – of Belarus, 1 – of Ukraine, 2 – of Georgia. The sampling mainly included members of the Central Asia network of gender research (41 people) and representatives of women’s public organizations. Most respondents have higher education, live in cities, being by occupation NGO activists (37 people), university professors (22 people), post graduate students (5 people), students (2 people), pupils (2 people), journalists (2), employees of international organizations and funds (6), non-working people (2) and others (7).

Ethnic stereotypes of women reflect in general their current place and status in the family and society within their ethnic group. Stereotypes are formed under influence of visual images, dominating in culture, literature, fine arts, mass media, reflecting both archaic ethnic and present-day images. At the same time they reflect observations from everyday communication and interaction of people of different ethnic groups. Hetero-stereotypes of respondents do not differ by content from auto-stereotypes: speaking of a countrywoman respondent mentions both positive and negative features.

Since answering the question respondents could give only one or several words, in their comments they expressed regret and some concern with verified character of answers. Thus, one of the respondents admitted” I understand, that these are only stereotypes, but I answered as you asked, quickly and not thinking much”.

Let’s begin analysis of responses. The primary classification of obtained information was carries out by following groups:

The most substantial information was given in categories of appearance, spiritual qualities, business qualities and social status. Less substantial information were given in abstract and ethnographic images, food and cuisine and other associations. It was typical, that in categories “food and cuisine” and “ethnographic images” there were observed greater unanimity and repetition of responses , as if respondents got out of memory automatically emerging mental forms, determined by everyday life experience or perception of media information.

The most typical example is a description of Russian woman by famous strophe of N. Nekrassov “She will pull up a galloping horse and enter a house on fire”[ii]. Typical is a steady widely spread association of Kazakh woman with steppe, Korean woman – with salads, Dungan woman – with noodles, Gypsy woman – with fortune telling etc. In general answers are characterized by either frequent repetition of the same expressions or filling of content field by close features and qualities, complementing each other.

Since two thirds of the sampling were represented by residents of Kazakhstan let’s start from description of Kazakh woman.

Probably, it is not a surprise for anyone, that Kazakh woman is associated with steppe, a typical landscape environment of Kazakhstan. She is called a person of steppe (space and world of nomads), free and calm as steppe, sun, wind, water, a song of skylark, smoke of kizyak and presented on the background of jurt, mixing kumiss, or as a brave woman, riding a horse in the national cap with plumes. Someone is recalling Pushkin’s line “kalmyk, friend of steppes”, which is also related to steppe space and freedom. Frequent are images, related to Kazakh cuisine: kumiss, dough, besbarmak, piala, tea.

In the appearance of Kazakh woman an accent is made on headscarf, swarthiness, round face, black plait, small figure, beauty. Beauty is identified as neither Eastern, nor Asian, apart from other ethnic groups, as we will see below. In the appearance of the Kazakh woman there is no eroticism, sexuality, excessive brightness. It is mentioned, that Kazakh woman is an advanced modern beauty, keeping pace with the times; a stylish resident of Almaty with a high self-appraisal, trying to escape an imposed image of Oriental woman, but not being successful in everything. Nevertheless, they note her submissiveness, connection with home hearth, fulfillment of role of mother, daughter-in-law, having big family, many children and having to observe customs, traditions and ceremonies.

Psychological qualities of Kazakh woman speak of low social status and home role: patient, obedient, long-suffering, helpless; fond of children, tender-hearted, responsive, ready to share, agreeable, obliging, hospitable, respect to elder people, respect for elders. However, this does not prevent her to be free and easy, proud, overbearing daring and inscrutable. Among few business qualities they mention diligence, efficiency, quickness and refinement.

Other ethnic types of Central Asian women, being described in detail and vividly, include Uighur, Uzbek, Korean, Tatar and Dungan women. It is a general opinion, that all Central Asian women have such common qualities as being a good housewife, respect for elder, honoring men and as a consequence, voluntary choice to remain always in shadow of men. Business and social qualities of Asian women are mentioned in the last place, which proved idea of economic underdevelopment of the region.

Uighur woman is a beauty of Orient, with big eyes, thick brows, with sex appeal, tender and graceful. Any Asian person knows, that she is a hospitable cook, a good hand in cooking lagman; lagman and manty are her best cooked dishes and she can cook economically from everything she has under her hand.

She has many children, honors elder and husband, traditions; probably, for this reason she is not inclined to build a career and independent life; a retrograde in some respect, reserved, keeps aloof; feels and keeps inside her soul much unfairness to herself; sometimes obstinate, but more frequently cunning, smart, hard-working; her part is second-hand market, bazaar, where she can make two kopecks out of one.

By beauty, thrift and practicality Uighur woman resembles a Korean woman – one of few in the group of Eastern women, belonging to non-Turkic and non-Islamic culture in the central Asian region. If Uighur woman is associated with lagman, Korean woman is associated with Korean salads, rice, spices, kuksi noodles and dog meat. She is distinguished with narrow eyes, miniature, graceful and exotic beauty and cleanliness. Like Uighur woman she is engaged in trading at the bazaar, business in area of café, restaurants, clubs, shops, and for this reason she is rich. Her entrepreneurial success is promoted by diligence, accuracy, intellect, tenacity, pragmatism, dynamism. Depending on situation and character Korean woman can be both refined, subtle, tender, lively, wise and capricious, crafty and bad-tempered.

In the row of Asian women with outstanding cooking abilities a special place belongs to Tatar women. Unlike Uighur and Korean women, Tatar women are not active in trading and financial sphere. She is also cunning and practical, but these qualities help them to settle their family and social affairs.

To begin with, many Tatar women are associated with Tatar-Mongol conquest, seizure of Kazan, Suumbeki tower and other ethnographic details, such as: accordion, ichigi, music, dance and even princess (here one recalls a song “From behind an island to deep stream”, Stepan Razin and death of his beloved). On the other hand, in everyday communication Tatar women are known with delicious food, soft pastry, belyashi, echpochmak, cookies. Like Kazakh woman, Tatar women is beautiful, has a headscarf, black plait, dark brows, she is famous with her cleanliness and neatness.

She is a good housewife, careful, modest, spirited calm and smart. Nevertheless, in opinion of respondents, she is distinguished with her cunning and reserved character. Social status of Tatar woman is higher, than that of Kazakh, Korean and Uighur women: she is emancipatedd intellectual, clever and energetic, businesslike and talented, pushing and adroit, obstinate and adaptable, knows how to keep her husband and increase richness.

Continuing description of Asian women, let’s consider depiction of Uzbek woman, ascribed with bright external and internal features, distinguishing her as the least emancipated woman in Central Asia. Let’s start from appearance.

Uzbek woman is associated with plaits, many plaits, 25 plaits, million plaits, plaits, girl with a thousand plaits and fine skullcap. This is a woman in striped dress with short trousers, having many children. As a rule, she is slim, dark-complexioned and colorful; uses usma, she has golden teeth, loves shining fabrics; many-colored trousers, silk dresses; colorful robes, her past is yashmak. In her youth Uzbek woman is beautiful, but her beauty is quickly passes away. She is also quite loud, with loud speech.

However, social status of Uzbek woman causes compassion: submissiveness, deprived of any rights, meekness, defenseless, repressed sexuality, exhausted, dependent, limited without any role in family, adherence to traditions - such are the most frequently mentioned expressions about her place in the society and family.

It is noted, that few Uzbek women study in higher educational establishments, usually they are entirely housewives; there are two types of Uzbek women” very emancipated and those, who from their youth, being afraid of condemnation, did not get beyond defined patriarchal rules. These women are not required, that is why there are frequent cases of self-burning.

The main role of Uzbek woman is her home role, she protects her home as a fortress, marries early and becomes downtrodden mother of family with many children, which subsequently exploits her daughters-in –law. As for psychology of Uzbek woman, she is imperturbable, quiet, warm, closed, knows which side her brad is buttered, sometimes coquettish, and, as a rule, generous. Quite characteristic detail of this time is being association of Uzbek woman with name Lola, mentioned by one of the respondents – name, by which prostitutes at Uzbek-Kazakh border name themselves, providing services to drivers, business men and customers.

There is one more small ethnic group in Asia, around which there is more phantasy and rumors, rather that real ideas. They are Dungans, originating from China and resembling Chinese and Uighurs by culture. Like Uighur woman, Dungan woman is associated with national dish – Dungan noodles, lagman, as well as djussai herb, carrot salad, funchesa salad. Contradictory presentations of respondents speak of their weak familiarity with representatives of this people. For example, it is difficult to imagine Dungan woman according to words, given in our survey - long nails, large stout woman in skullcap or pointed cap, barefooted, with bell on her foot. However, expressions about her social status are more definite: hard work on the plantations, deprival of any rights and incest, staying at home, religious, submissive to her husband, thinks of her relatives and close friends, far from politics, a good mother, entirely concerned with the family, shi is where money is.

Little is known about inner world of Dungan women, for such words as cheerful, patient, proud, reserved, hard-working, smart, mobile, thrifty, without initiative provide a wide spectrum for interpretations and conclusions. Some respondents, who are not familiar with Dungan ethnic group at all, gave sound and semantic associations, such as Isadora Duncan, “Children of Captain Grant”, transparent cloud,, mystery, something unclear.

Due to small number of respondents from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, there were few responses by categories of Kyrgyz and Tajik women. Image of Kyrgyz woman is close to Kazakh woman: daughter of mountains, kelinka (daughter-in law) in headscarf, small, dark-complexioned. They note her warm-heartedness, holy simplicity, love of movement.

Tajik woman is compared with stem of a tree, which means endurance, steadiness in hardships, courage. At the same time she has tender soul (similarly with Leili – heroine of Persian epic), but, as a whole she remains to have complexes, related to traditions and secondary role in the family and society.

Russians in social consciousness have the richest connotation and description, full of images. Undoubtedly, it is difficult to find a person in the CIS, who will not be able to give an associated image or description of Russian man or Russian woman, in particular. By frequency of usage a record in this survey was beaten by Nekrassov’s phrase “She will pull up a galloping horse and will enter a house on fire”. Other ethnographic images are given as well: beauties of Kustodiyev and Vassnetsov, light brown plait, sarafan, birch, isba, yoke, baths, field, sky, peasant woman, (a stout young woman on farmer’s field, resting after work with a jug of milk and a round loaf of bread near her). Famous historical characters are given as well (grand duchess Olga, Catherine the Second), cultural symbols (Motherland), images of Russian literature (Natasha Rostova). Range of culinary associations is not very wide (kalatch, pelmeni, borsch).

Appearance of the Russian woman is related to common image of “baba” (peasant woman): fat, stout, big, plump woman with strong body, wheat-color hair, thick plait, rouge on cheeks.

In general, it is a non-imposing, simple beauty, this woman is not modern, wears a jersey and valenki (felt boots), works with pick hammer in tarpaulin boots, or a dairymaid, or a shop-tourist.

They unanimously admit kindness and warmth of Russian woman as features of her love, patience, responsiveness, sincerity, or that comfort, by which western men are attracted, since she is a good housewife and mother, as a stove, near which one wants to rest.

Nekrassov’s phrase has already included such features as strength, bravery, endurance, patience, diligence, responsibility, fight for justice, for this reason, probably, for some people Russian woman is fight and poetry. Reminding of the recent Soviet past, someone associated her with endless line. The realities of the last decade have added such characteristic details, as thinking in new fashion, but sees a way to become rich not in herself and her labor, but in sharp husband.

Ukrainian woman is not less vivid, with magnificent bust, cheerful, in embroidered costume, with necklaces and garland with many-colored ribbons, dancing hopak in cherevichkis or singing a long drawn-out song at her khutor.

Ukrainian woman is, certainly, a beauty, blooming with health, vivid, with dark brows, loud-voiced with her hands on her both sides, plump, fat, stout, corpulent. Her culinary preferences are well known: fat, vareniki, borsch, galushki, shchi (cabbage soup), gorilka, cherries.

It is not a secret for anyone, that she dominates in the family, commanding, but a good housewife and a free woman, in general. This risible songstress treats surrounding people with unconcealed interest, sometimes frivolous and vacillating, sometimes calm and always hospitable.

One can envy her business grip and push: energetic, pushing, superjibbed, active, brisk, she will poke her nose into everything and will never stand aside, besides, she is skilful, bright, thrifty, a needle-woman, her house is tidy and cleanly.

A modern Ukrainian is a soloist of the band “VIA GRA”, singer Natasha Koroleva or Russlana, who won at the “Eurovision-2004” contest . For some she is Aksinya from “Tiky Don”, Lessya Ukrainka or simply a girl from Dunai.

Belorussian woman is not as vivid as Ukrainian, probably, does not differ in anything from Russian, a villager, used to difficulties and uncertainty, not malicious, but a loud, simple woman. This is a writer Svetlana Alexievich, who described two big tragedies of the Belorussian people in the last century (Great Patriotic war and Chernobyl).

Chechen woman is often associated with word “black” , there is much in her image, causing concern and sadness: black headscarf, black clothes, black brows, sullen look, eyes, flashing as fire. Besides, she is young, tall, slender, proud, for someone – somewhat unpleasant. It is a common knowledge, that Chechen woman is faithful to her husband and family, is not seen behind men, a plaything in their hands, strong, but appendix to man, martyr, with many children, without any rights, under control, downtrodden and submissive.

A usual image, given by mass media – a refugee, woman with difficult life, with despair in her eyes and pain from losses, in thoughts for children, dreaming of peaceful normal life in comfort. Her character combines pride and alertness, pain and hatred, tiredness and oppressed state. Her business qualities are worth of respect: indefatigable, persistent, diligent, enduring, cleanly.

Besides, steadiness of associations prompt the respondents, that a modern Chechen woman is a heroine of the recent mass media paranoia. Images, imposed by mass media, – Shakhid, condemned, adventurer and related attributes and phenomena: belt of Shakhid, war, danger, knife, dagger, revenge, vakhabism, Chechnya, Grozny, lie, trouble, “Spetznaz” film, round table “Chechen and Russian mothers” and other - are related to Chechen woman in the social consciousness of CIS intelligentsia.

By degree of danger and necessity of a distance Gypsy woman is close Chechen woman. Although, as it is known, Gypsies are a permanent problem of civilization and culture, fortunately not related to war and violence. Probably, there is no man, who can not mention one of the typical features of Gypsy woman, such as” fortune- teller, Gypsy encampment, playing cards, dances, songs, tambourine, guitar, Gypsy romances, roaming from one place to another, noise of coins, bonfire, creak of wheel, constant moving etc.

As a heroine of the film “Gypsy camp leaves for skies” Gypsy woman wears long wide colorful skirts, necklaces, round ear-rings, bright beads, shawl, scarf on thighs.

She can be charming, sultry, loud, noisy, dirty. Often on her breast or on her back there is a thin “exhausted” child, attached by scarf, another child holds her skirt”, she and her children are with bare and dirty feet.

Social type is a beggar with a child, homeless, driven away, engaged in theft, without education and wish to work, free from social conventions and simply free. This a dangerous woman with many hidden thoughts, with evil eye,, revengeful, a good psychologist, uninhibited, with high opinion of herself, independent and impudent, but with her own firm life principles. She is a cunning cheat, intrusive, shameless thief, with whom one is afraid to communicate. And a bad mother,

Thus, this is the most contradictory image of twenty ethnic characters of women, being considered by us. As one of the respondents mentioned “there is literary image of Gypsy woman like Zemfira, and there is entirely observation-based. And two images will never meet, will never be two in one”.

There is one more very colorful type of woman in the East and Central Asia – Turkish woman. What is this woman associated with, regardless, whether we view women from ethnic group of Meskhetia Turks, living in CIS, or residents of Turkey?

The most widely spread image are being, surely, yashmak, belly dance, dancer, harem, coffee, hookah, beautiful princess, closed lower part of the face, long robe, scarf with coins on thighs, pointed shoes.

Many note her exotic beauty, plastic, graceful figure, big black eyes, long eyelashes and an indispensable attribute – a headscarf.

Apart from classical image respondents have real pictures from life, when they see Turkish woman as big, unattractive, short (in CIS) or bright blonde with dyed hair from television (in Turkey).

Social status of Turkish women is presented by people in typical way: submissive, driven, without rights, enslaved, captive, slavery, many children, family for her in the first place, a housewife, tries to resemble a European,, closed door, does not know her bridegroom before wedding, under yoke of rigidly patriarchal and stringently ruled family life.

Above explains associations of her complex inner world: closed, reserved, aggressive, spoilt – are these not images of harem captives?

Besides, in the post-Soviet environment people will long keep a bright image of heroine of the Turkish movie “Kinglet is a signing bird” Feridae.

Jewish woman is sometimes described by ethnographic images (synagogue, Esther, Rachel, Sarah, “Havva nagila” song”). Everyone knows her typical appearance: hair above her lips, dark-brown eyes, hooked nose, large thighs, thin waist, often fat, speaks in scandalous manner, not very neat.

Amazing unanimity is observed in responses regarding maternal role of the Jewish woman. Variations on this topic are as follows: head of the family, mother with many children, mother of the family, mamma of the big family, 100%-mother, brooding-hen mother, mummy, very much attached to family values, home, thrift, good housewife, cultural traditions.

Psychology of Jewish woman reveals a complex and flexible character: she is cunning, knows which side her bread is buttered, self-conceited, ironical, easily adaptable, lively, not boring, warm, intellectual, coquettish, sexual, expansive, uncommon.

Surely, Jewish woman is smart, she has high intellect, talent, mathematical cast of mind, elitism. Nevertheless, she has also such qualities, as greediness, practicality and prudence, this woman always knows her advantage and always settles her affairs well. This explains her success, activeness, strength, well-being, prosperity.

Georgian woman is presented by such images, as Suliko, lezghinka, Georgian dance, slim beauty, dignity and chess (one recalls famous champions Nona Gaprindashvili, Maya Cheburdanidze, Nana Iosseliani).

We have considered various characters of Islam culture, allowing to view them under cultural and social community “women of the East” (Turkish, Uzbek, Tajik, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Chechen, Dungan, Korean, Uighur, Tatar women). As CIS representatives they have similar features of common social and political formation, common past, uniting cultures on the basis of the Russian language, common post-Soviet present, and as one can suspect, common future.

Peoples of the East are represented by two more important ethnic groups, which shall be covered in our survey. They are Chinese and Japanese.

Chinese woman is quite colorful: this is a woman from Chinese miniature with fan, fan is an indispensable attribute of Chinese woman, known to every child from early years. Among ethnographic images there are also a dragon, porcelain figurine, vase of Min epoch, Confucius, Chinese bandaging of legs, ginseng, a big rice field, hot sun, thin woman in trousers and wide-brimmed cone-shaped hat on the rice farm. Chinese cuisine in the female context is quite modest: rice, turnip, plate, tea ceremony.

Appearance of the Chinese woman is distinguished by refinement, small forms, delicacy, grace, fragility, slimness, beauty, narrow eyes. Often it is mentioned, that Chinese woman is poor, submissive, hurt, without claims and demands, traditions, home, family are in the first place for her. She can be secretive, knows which side her bread is buttered, reserved, silent, patient, and, probably, wise, calm, polite.

Her main typical quality is diligence, also she is very practical, thrifty, talented, persistent, indefatigable. In the post-Soviet environment Chinese woman can be met at the bazaar, where there is much of everything, everything by wholesale and very cheap.

A word Japanese woman is associated with classical attributes of Japanese culture: kimono, geisha, Sakura, porcelain dolly, fan, wooden sabots, white socks, ikebana, hairdo with sticks, porcelain, samurai, nunchaku, mask, stone gardens, mysterious ceremonies. Associated relation with national cuisine is revealed through three well known concepts: tea ceremony, rice, sake.

Like Chinese, Japanese woman is beautiful, graceful, she has small feet, cheeks, eyes, porcelain face, small pace, but she is bright, thin and strange, like greenhouse. Traditionalism is her main specific feature, she is patriotic, proud with a country, with herself, her husband, life. Educated and cultural, she knows her rights, emancipated, travels trough the world. Her portrait is supplemented by such qualities as quiet, secretive, reserved, well-wishing, agreeable, refined, delicate, poetical, with sense of beauty. Japanese woman for some people is an actress Komaki Kurikhara, for others – a girl from calendar; for some – simply a car (in everyday life Japanese cars are called Japanese women) or even information technologies.

German woman in this survey was viewed both as a countrywoman and a foreigner; judging by responses, German woman is viewed more as a foreigner and given images are directly related to Germany, its history and culture. However, many features and qualities, being ethnic stereotypes, truly reflect specific peculiarities of German women in general, regardless of the place of residence.

Probably, the most typical ethnographic image of German woman, known from textbooks, is a blonde in white flounced apron, with plump hands, shaking off flour.

German woman usually is bright-eyed blonde, often stout, plump, sometimes wan, awkward, plain. Often respondents present German woman as unattractive, thin, without make-up, manlike. Undoubtedly, she is a good housewife and spouse, she has a strong united family. One can easily guess which features are typical for German woman in the most concentrated way, serving as a national attribute. They are accuracy, cleanliness and pedantry. This is supplemented by practicality, prudence, diligence, strictness, discipline, thrift, solid sense, honesty, punctuality and we have a business portrait of German woman. However she is characterized with poor spiritual qualities: coldness, dryness, cruelty, secretiveness, boring.

Among other associations they mentioned: frau, Was ist Das?, Alsatian, name Martha, overseer in the concentration camp, Kattarina Witt, drill ground and Berlin wall.

American woman is described in quite contradictory way. Most amazing is a negative estimation of her appearance. There are many variations on this topic: not well-groomed, not stylish, does not dress well, not fashionable clothes, not ironed shorts and T-shirt, sleepers, put on bare feet, elderly woman in shorts, emancipated woman, for whom it is not important how she looks, a girl without make-up, happy fatty woman, stout and shapeless person, a short hair-cut, a knapsack, waddling walk, tennis shoes, dentures, plain, manlike, unisex. Positive estimations are given less frequently: smiling, loudly speaking, stylish blonde, jeans, jeep, cowboy hat, cigarette, uncommonness.

Symbols and subjects of American mass culture are mentioned: hamburger, chewing gum, popcorn, statue of Liberty, dance, sex, Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the city”

Knowing a kind of our sampling (activists of female organizations and researchers of gender issues), we are not surprised, that most people relate image of American woman with achievements of the female movement in the USA: feminist, independent, free, self-sufficient, uninhibited, emancipated, enjoying equal rights, wealthy, hater of men.

Besides, American women are emotional, uninhibited so much, that they look ill-mannered, snobs, arrogant, hypocritical, empty, with complexes, cold, dry, egoists, superficial, non-constant and impudent. Their actions are often characterized with regulated character, black and colored women are distinguished with a habit to rely on social support and not to undertake anything to change their life.

Despite this, business qualities of the majority of American women – intellect, professionalism, activeness, self-confidence, discipline pragmatism, career-mindness – are worth of great respect.

The most stereotypical image in the whole cohort of 20 names is an image of English woman. If Russian woman is often described by words “She will pull up a galloping horse and enter a house on fire”, English woman is often characterized by such words as primness and snobbism. Women in England are considered to be cold, reserved, polite, strict, calm and boring, as well as decent, refined, cheerful, sensible, with subtle sense of humor.

By appearance they are not as ludicrous as American women, but not attractive as Italian and Japanese women. A typical English woman in view of our respondents is a tall, thin, plain lady with primed lips, in pince-nez, hat, with curls; or a dry girl in business suit; or a classical lean lady with upright back. She is surely a Puritan, well-bred. Her everyday life is full of subjects of the English novels (fireplace, 5 o’clock tea, fog, lawn, oatmeal, pudding, coffee, etiquette, Miss Marple, detective). Besides, under strong influence of mass media image of English woman in social consciousness is associated with famous members of the Royal family (queen, mother –queen, princess Diana).

Her business qualities are determined by upbringing and traditions: intelligent, pedantic, conservative, open, educated, self-respecting, self-sufficient, tolerant.

If in view of our respondents American woman is typically an untidy feminist and English woman is a prim lady, French woman is an endless charm, fashion and sexuality. In cloud of delicate perfume (Chanel # 5) she walks refined, delicate, beautiful, stylish and elegant along the streets of Paris, thin in tight knee-short skirt, light neck scarf matching her clothes, a smiling brunette, fascination itself. Some think, that French woman is not attractive, nothing extraordinary, a grey bird in everyday life, but she can show off with her night beauty; often she is bow-legged and has a voice of smoking person. She is free and not alien to feminism, but prefers to remain within proprieties and good manners. The main thing, of course, that she is light-minded, frivolous, uninhibited, romantic, inspired, very popular with men and she has no equals, full of love, successful in love, sometimes even a debauched and tricky person – but incredibly charming and charismatic.! This is courage, restlessness and love! She drinks wine and breakfast with croissants, she is in songs of Edit Piaff, Joe Dassin and Mirelle Matieu. A real French woman is Coco Chanel, Catherine Deneuve, Francoise Sagan, Simone de Beauvoir.

Italian woman is not less vivid and attractive image. Let’s imagine pictures of Renaissance: Madonna with a child, dress cut near breasts to feed a babe and sown with threads, splendid bust, sun, the Sistine chapel, Madonna, grape, sunflower, guitar, Venice, Laura.

Her image is related with classical images of Italian cuisine (spaghetti, pizza, macaroni, sauces, strong coffee). Italian woman speaks much and fast, very noisy with a loud, scandalous and hoarse voice, sultry beauty, sensual, southern, sunny, sun tanned. She has magnificent hair, splendid bust, this is Sophie Lauren. She is embodiment of flourishing, money and luxury. This spirited, expressive woman, full of love, energetic, can cause a scandal and quarrel any minute. Men value in her sex appeal and impulsiveness, merriness and restlessness, sense of humor and bright womanliness. This is a volcano, ready to explore all of a sudden, warm strength, which makes a dull life of bored man an art of survival and self- possession. This a holiday of which one is tired, but always wishes again. Probably, this not a real, imagined image, bit one wants to believe, that somewhere in warm country there are really happy women…

From warm Italy let’s move to the north of Europe to Scandinavian women. Ethnic archetype of Swedish woman is defined by rigid landscape – snow, mountains, cold wind, ships, Vikings. Let’s imagine a tall sportive woman without make-up, in trousers, coat and sports shoes, with few gestures and self-confident. Her color is white. It dominates in description of her pale image: white, fair, with fine complexion, with fair hair, with straight straw or flax-color hair, freckles nose, a pale moth, in one word.

This is a free woman, enjoying equal rights, aware of her rights, makes decisions at parity with other problem participants, protected by law and government, enjoys fruits of feminism, socialism, gender balance in the government.

Due to Nordic character this woman is cold and reserved, phlegmatic and natural, comfortable and solid, tactful and patient, melodic and content with life. But as one of the respondents mentioned “of good rules, correct, but … boring”. Someone, on the contrary, thinks, that Swedish woman is ice and fire, a granddaughter of Vikings.

Business side of her character is quite positive: rational, precise, prudent, well-balanced, through, diligent, strong, reliable, there is much to learn from her.

Respondents could not help recalling a Swedish family, where sex is so common, that children are taught it in the textbooks from the age of five, without any secrets and love, as a result.

Answers of male respondents show, that their images and stereotypes are very similar to presentations of women by both content and visually.

As we see, presentation about the whole people, women of certain ethnic group can be expressed quite typically in one or several words.

Sincerity and real honesty in answers of the respondents impressed me most of all. The thing is not only, that they are anonymous. Most probably, ethnic images are a part of everyday life, which, if we do not pronounce, bear in mind constantly. Under chance of articulation of this part of our unconscious – we do this easily and naturally.

[i] The article has been sent to me by email and then distributed through information network of the Research Center in Gender Studies, Skopje, Macedonia.

[ii] Here and below answers of the respondents are given in italic.

BABA, STEPPE AND FEMINIST