MODERN PARADIGM OF STATE GENDER POLICY IN THE CONDITIONS OF DECENTRALIZATION AND MARTIAL STATE IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article provides a theoretical and methodological reconstruction of the modern
paradigm of state gender policy, conceptualized as a multi-level institutional system shaped by the
interaction of core social institutions-sex, gender identity, and gender roles. The proposed approach
enables the interpretation of gender policy as a complex configuration of normative, value-based, and
organizational components that form its institutional architecture and determine the logic of state
regulation in this domain. The empirical dimension of the study is based on an analysis of transformations
in gender relations under conditions of decentralization and crisis-related challenges, including martial
law. The findings reveal structurally reproduced gender imbalances manifested in labor market
segmentation, vertical and horizontal occupational stratification, and unequal access to economic
resources and career advancement. A distinct phenomenon of the double burden on women has been
identified, combining paid employment with a disproportionately high share of unpaid reproductive labor.
A detailed statistical analysis of employment and wage data allowed for the identification of both
age-related and structural forms of gender inequality, reproduced through institutionally embedded social
norms and stereotypical perceptions of gender roles. This indicates the inertial nature of social
mechanisms reproducing inequality even under conditions of normative progress in the field of equal
rights and opportunities. A comparative analysis of women’s and men’s representation in public
administration, the political sector, and the business environment demonstrates the persistence of
segmented employment patterns and sectoral gender concentration. At the same time, comparison with
European Union countries indicates a gradual positive trend in women’s political representation in
Ukraine, although the overall level of gender parity remains below the European average.