| 47 Number 2 • 2021 I n the three decades of Ukraine’s independence, women have actively partici- pated in and been a driving force behind social and political changes in the country. In recent years we have seen women’s active participation in the Maidan protests – Revolution of Dignity, servicewomen joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine and participating in the war in Eastern Ukraine, civilian wom- en taking the lead in the volunteer movement, in human rights activism, gender equality campaigns and a range of other initiatives. Their numbers in the Verkhovna Rada have increased and the voices at least of individual women have become more prominent. Those in roles where women historically lacked visibil- ity—such as in the military and volunteering – started to become more visible. Gaining this visibility, however, often meant that women not only had to fight to voice their concerns as activists in their respective fields, but also for their very place in a public sphere that continues to silence and marginalize wom- en. Women activists, therefore, face a twofold challenge: to be taken seriously as activists and to be taken seriously as women. Cynthia Enloe makes an important observation: “To be taken seriously does not mean to be liked or to be admired. Rather, to be taken seriously means to be listened to, to be carefully responded to, to have one’s ideas and actions thoughtfully weighted. It means that what one does or thinks matters – that is, significant consequences flow from it.” 1 This article outlines some of the key areas of women’s involvement in activism since Ukraine became independent, and, in particular, since the outbreak of the war in Eastern Ukraine, situates this activism in the wider regional context and highlights some of the key challenges that women activists continue to face. The authors do not aim to give a comprehensive overview of the whole period. This article is rather an invitation to celebrate the achievements to date and en- courage further discussions of the topic. Post-Soviet Regional Context Ukraine’s post-Soviet experience is unique; yet, at the same time, it is necessary to consider its position in regional and temporal contexts. In some ways, Ukrainian women’s experiences of socialism was not dissimilar to that of their neighbors: women were promised certain kinds of equality – such as equal work and pay, and a collective attitude in childrearing – but in reality, they were more likely to experience a “double burden” of wage work and reproductive work. 2 Furthermore, women across the Soviet Union had distinctive experiences of state socialism, particularly depending on the time and place of their integra- Emily Channell- Justice, Olesya Khromeychuk, Tamara Martsenyuk, Jessica Zychowicz Ukraine (fnally) Treats Women’s Actvism Seriously