Gender a výzkum / Gender and Research . X:X | DOI: 10.13060/gav.2025.003

The Conceptualisation of Female Heroism in Ukrainian Society During Periods of Armed Conflict and Crisis

Tetiana Khraban ORCID..., Mykhailo Khraban ORCID...

Kruty Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology

This study focuses on the specific conceptualisations of female heroism among  Facebook users in Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. The material utilised in this study is drawn from an authentic corpus of written texts that exemplify the prevailing attitudes and perceptions of female heroism among Ukrainian Facebook users. We argue/suggest that the period of upheaval and crisis in Ukraine has had the effect of expanding the range of potential heroes and that the role of gender in the attribution of heroism has become less significant. The direct physical danger involved in engaging in combat is a key aspect in the conceptualisation of Ukrainian women’s heroic actions. The heroic risk associated with helping others and caring for people is increasingly perceived not in terms of altruism, but in terms of dominance. Given the contemporary need for charismatic leaders to navigate the country through the profound systemic crisis caused by the war, the concept of female heroism is evolving to align with the archetypal and prototypical characteristics associated with leadership. The conceptualisation of female heroism is shifting towards leadership qualities that are considered essential for uniting the nation and guiding the country through this crisis.

Keywords: female heroism, discourse, conceptual models

Received: October 25, 2024; Revised: June 20, 2025; Accepted: July 7, 2025; Prepublished online: September 17, 2025