Women in Protest: Singing for Ukraine

• In Event: Resistance and Conformity: Rock, Shanson, and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Abstract

Women have played an active and important role in protesting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This presentation will discuss songs written by women, women’s performances, and images of women in songs against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war. The presentation will discuss Alla Pugacheva’s song “Voina” (2022), Zemfira’s 2022 performances abroad and her outspoken support of Ukraine, Monetochka’s songs regarding the Russia she has lost, Kalush Orchestra’s images of women in war in their winning 2022 Eurovision entry for Ukraine “Stefania” and in their official Eurovision video, and others. This presentation will show various ways in which women’s voices and images of women have conveyed powerful messages from various perspectives against Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Author

• Karen Joan Evans-Romaine, U of Wisconsin-Madison