DOI: https://doi.org/10.62204/2336-498X-2023-1-14

GENDER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROFESSIONAL

ACTIVITY OF A FEMALE MILITARY OFFICER

Mykola Zhuravlov,

Adjunet of National Defence University
of Ukraine named after Ivan Cherniakhovskyi,
nikolajzuravlev688@gmail.com; ORCID: 0000-0002-5660-1660

Tetiana Sydorenko,

 Ph.D. in Economics, Assistant Professor,
State University of Trade and Economy, Kyiv, Ukraine
sydorenko_tanya@ukr.net; ORCID: 0000-0003-2904-0826

Annotation. The article substantiates the authority of professional activity regarding the specifics of the gender difference of female servicemen. It is noted that the involvement of women in the ranks of the Armed Forces is due to: a sense of social security; material and medical support; availability of permanent income; guaranteed leave; the possibility of arranging a personal life; the possibility of career growth; the possibility of obtaining housing; a sense of duty to the Motherland.

According to the order, women in other specialties are not subject to mandatory military registration. However, they can always join the military register at their own will.

It is noted that female servicemen, based on the list of prescribed documents provided in the Instructions, have the opportunity to be released from professional responsibilities if they need to treat a sick child who needs outside care.

Keywords: gender specifics, social protection, female serviceman, the Statute of the Internal Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, dismissal from official responsibilities, instructions.

Introduction. The priority task of development under martial law conditions in Ukraine is the approximation of modern standards to the criteria for ensuring social life on the model of developed countries in strengthening social guarantees and in defining gender rights and responsibilities of citizens. The direction of the State’s strategic course toward full membership of Ukraine in cooperation with the countries of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is constitutionally determined. The constitutional security of the state guarantees the safety and defense of citizens, their dignity, the inviolability of life, and the honor of families, which is the highest social value in Ukraine [9].

The national security of Ukraine is aimed at protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine in ensuring its information and economic security, which are important factors in regulating the stability of the state and the entire Ukrainian people. The military obligation of citizens is determined by their participation in the defense of the Motherland. That is why, during martial law, to prepare them for defense, not only men but also women, who are fit for service due to their health and age, are registered for military service. The moral and psychological state of conscripts must also be appropriate, which directly affects the quality of performance and the timeliness of the implementation of organizational and mobilization tasks in wartime and peacetime.

At the same time, military personnel are guided by the Constitution of Ukraine, the statutes of the Armed Forces, and the laws of Ukraine on military issues and regulatory legal acts in the performance of their responsibilities. Military service is usually performed by both men and women. Each of them is guided by the right to work, which he chooses according to his own choice, except for some organizational and mobilization measures. There is a need to define and specify the gender specifics of the professional activity of female servicemen about the issue of regulating their release from responsibilities.

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the powers of professional activity concerning the specifics of the gender difference of female servicemen.

Gender policy issues reflect the social opportunities of each gender in determining family roles, access to power, education, professional support, and reproductive behavior, which is one of the basic indicators of the quality of life in society and the formation of social institutions. The state creates equal opportunities for citizens to exercise their rights to work, promotes vocational training and retraining of personnel following social needs, and guarantees free choice of professional activity.

The social orientation of the system of economic and socio-political priorities of Ukraine is now gaining weight in the context of defining national interests in the protection and security of the rights and freedoms of every citizen. In this sense, we define gender identity as an individual’s awareness of his gender, namely the feeling of his female or male dominance in the sociometric dimension. The equality of rights and freedoms of women and men is stipulated by the Constitution of Ukraine [9].

The professional orientation of women regarding the choice of military activity is based on the priorities of service mainly for economic reasons – it is material support that attracts them. The significance of self-realization in the conditions of service is quite significant, which allows them to obtain a specialty for the implementation of further professional activities after leaving the army. The involvement of women in the ranks of the Armed Forces is also determined by:

  • a sense of social security;
  • material and medical support;
  • availability of permanent income;
  • guaranteed leave;
  • the possibility of arranging a personal life;
  • the possibility of increasing career growth;
  • the possibility of obtaining housing;
  • a sense of responsibility to the Motherland.

Taking into account the general prerogatives of serving in the sphere of defense of the country, it is men who have a significant advantage, which refutes the gender demand for women’s service in the armed forces. However, objective reality interprets the new priorities of women in military uniform, which provides them with the possibility of self-realization in all spheres of military activity. Currently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are mostly staffed by daughters, wives, and relatives of military personnel. Their presence significantly optimizes the moral and psychological atmosphere in military teams, increases the culture of relations between genders, and forces the command to be more restrained and attentive [1].

The use of forced labor by women during military service is prohibited.

According to the new standards for admission to military registration, in 2023, the procedure for involving women in the service ensures the availability of only pharmaceutical and medical specialties. At the same time, women with medical and pharmaceutical education (who received it before December 30, 2022) who were not included in the military registration, have the opportunity to be employed in the service until 2026.

Military registration is subject to only those women who meet the following requirements, according to the order of the Ministry of Defense №. 313 (from October 11, 2021), with almost a hundred professions and specialties:

age category from 18 to 60 years;

absence of contraindications regarding the state of psychosomatic health;

professional security according to the military accounting specialty.

Later, it was supplemented by Order №35 (from February 7, 2022), and the list of specialties was slightly shortened.

According to order № 31311 of the Ministry of Defense (from October 1, 2021), military registration for women is provided, which obliges them to join the service in 14 specialties (Table 1).

Mandatory military registration according to the order, women are not subject to other specialties. However, they can always join the military register at their own will.

At the same time, female servicemen have not insured persons following the Law: expenses for their social and material support are regulated according to the account of the state budget of Ukraine.

The grounds regarding the procedure for a female servicewoman for providing social benefits or exemption from professional responsibilities to care for a sick child are based on clinical indications for the period of treatment.

According to paragraph 5 of Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine (as of December 20, 1991, №. 2011) “On Social and Legal Protection of Servicemen and Their Family Members” (with relevant amendments), female servicemen have the opportunity to use all the benefits provided for by the legislation on their social protection, protection of motherhood and childhood [8].

Article 64 of the Fundamentals of the Legislation of Ukraine “On Health Care” (from November 19, 1992, under № 2801) refers to the impossibility of hospitalization due to the lack of clinical indications for the treatment of a sick child in a hospital, in the context of which a caregiver or other family member providing care, may be released from professional responsibilities with the payment of financial assistance from social insurance funds by the established procedure [6].

Table 1

List of professions and specialties of military accounting for women,

approved by the Ministry of Defense

№ п/п

List of specialties

 
1 2
1 chemistry, chemical technologies, engineering, biology
2 telecommunications and radio engineering
3 software engineering, computer science, information systems and technologies, computer engineering, systems analysis, cyber security, micro- and nanosystem engineering, automation, and computer-integrated technologies
4 metrology and information and measurement technology
5 Sciences of Earth, geography, physics, and Astronomy
1 2
7 provision of militaries, weapons, and military equipment, technologies of light industry
8 physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical and psychological rehabilitation, public health, physical rehabilitation, industrial pharmacy, sanitation, and expertise
9 stomatology, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, technologies of medical diagnosis and treatment
 
10 biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and bioengineering
11 veterinary medicine, veterinary hygiene
12 accounting and taxation, marketing, management, entrepreneurship, economics, finance, banking, and insurance
13 publishing, and printing
14 psychology, social work, social security

Article 35 of the Law of Ukraine “On mandatory state social insurance in connection with temporary loss of working capacity and expenses caused by birth and burial” guarantees insurance payments under the conditions of assisting by the need for temporary incapacity for work in relation to the need to care for a sick child [3].

A female military serviceman also has the right to receive one-time payments of material assistance for solving certain complex social and household issues. She is governed by the right to receive material compensation for the need to release her from her professional responsibilities to care for a sick child, according to a doctor’s opinion, but for no more than 14 calendar days. The basis for this is a letter of incapacity for work intended for financial assistance in connection with temporary incapacity for work and issued in the prescribed manner, according to clinical indications.

The procedure (Table 2) regarding the conditions for issuing, extending, and recording documents confirming the temporary incapacity of citizens, approved by the order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (from November 13, 2001, under № 455), registered in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine (from December 4, 2001, under No. 1005/6196).

Table 2

Instructions for release from professional responsibilities regarding temporary incapacity for work and care for a sick child

№ p/p Characteristics
1 2
Subparagraph 1.3.1 of paragraph 1.3 of the Instructions it is established that the certificate of incapacity for work is issued to citizens of Ukraine, foreigners, and stateless persons, according to the place of residence and the terms of the employment agreement (contract) at enterprises, institutions, and organizations regardless of the forms of ownership and management or natural persons, including in international diplomatic missions of consular institutions
Paragraphs 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 Instructions to care for an adult family member and a sick child older than 14 years, during treatment in an outpatient clinic, a sick leave certificate is issued for a period of up to three days. As an exception, depending on the severity of the course of the disease and living conditions, this period can be extended by the decision of the LKK, and in its absence – by the chief physician, but not more than 7 calendar days
to  care for a sick child under the age of 14, a certificate of incapacity for work is issued for the period during which the child needs care, but not more than 14 calendar days, and for the care of a child injured as a result of the accident at the Chornobyl NPP – for the entire period of his illness, including sanatorium-resort treatment
Paragraphs 3.8, 3.9, 3.10 Instructions in the case of inpatient treatment of children under the age of 6, one of the working family members or another working person who cares for the child is issued a certificate of incapacity for work for the entire period of stay in the inpatient facility together with the child
after the child is discharged from the hospital during the acute period of the disease, the sick leave is issued or extended until the child recovers, but within the established period, taking into account the days of the sick leave that was issued for the care of the child before hospital treatment
in the case of inpatient treatment of seriously ill children aged 6-14 years, a certificate of incapacity for work is issued to one of the working family members or another working person who supervises the child, for the period when, according to the conclusion of the LKK, the child needs individual care

Conclusions. Thus, the temporary incapacity for work of a female serviceman who was released from professional responsibilities is included in the total continuous length of military service. They have the right to receive financial assistance during the time they are released from their professional responsibilities in caring for the child due to illness, during which the child needs care according to the doctor’s opinion, but only for 14 calendar days and for the entire time of her stay in the hospital together with a sick child.

In addition, should be noted that female servicemen, based on the list of documents provided in the Instructions, have the opportunity to be excused from professional responsibilities if necessary to treat a sick child who needs outside care.

Based on a doctor’s certificate regarding exemption from professional responsibilities following the care of a sick child by female servicemen of a military unit and the list of documents provided for by the order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine regarding the register of the procedure established by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, for the continuation of treatment, as well as the beginning, duration, and return to service after her recovery, temporary incapacity for work is declared in the order of the military unit.

References:

  1. Bogutskiy P.P., Kryvenko O.V., Kryvenko A.O. Law of Ukraine “On social and legal protection of military personnel and members of their families”. Scientific and practical commentary, 2014. p.13-18.
  2. Law of Ukraine “On Military Responsibilities and Military Service” dated March 25, 1992, № 2232-12.
  3. Law of Ukraine “On mandatory state social insurance in connection with temporary disability and expenses caused by birth and burial” dated July 10, 2003, № 1096-IV.
  4. Law of Ukraine “On the Armed Forces of Ukraine” dated 06.12.91 № 1934-XII.
  5. Law of Ukraine “On the Defense of Ukraine” dated 06.12.91 № 1932-XII.
  6. Law of Ukraine “On Health Protection” dated November 19, 1992, № 2801
  7. Law of Ukraine “On pension provision of persons discharged from military service and certain other persons” dated 04.09.92 № 2262-12.
  8. Law of Ukraine “On social and legal protection of military personnel and members of their families” dated 12.20.91 № 2011-12.
  9. The Constitution of Ukraine, was adopted at the fifth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on June 28, 1996. K.: Prosvita, 1996. 80 p.
  10. Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated 11/13/2001 № 455 registered in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine on 12/04/2001 under № 1005/6196.
  11. Statute of the internal service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. р.256-257 approval by the Laws of Ukraine dated March 24, 1999, № 548-XIV; 551- XIV; 550- XIV; 549- XIV.