1695: Olha Kobylianska on Feminist Autonomy, Human Dignity, and Women’s Freedom
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2026/06/04
“In bringing woman into life, nature did not ask: ‘Is this a man or a woman, that I should endow them with corresponding abilities?’ No — nature said only: ‘Here you are, and live!’”
“Since woman, however, is a human being, just as man is, and the demands of nature in her are the same as in him, she must therefore be educated under the same conditions as he is for the struggle for existence; then she too will be able to fight for the means of life herself.”
“Let us educate ourselves, so that we may represent some force, so that we do not allow ourselves to be trampled on forever and ever, to be humbled, so that fate does not throw us about like slaves, so that we do not beg, like those beggar-women in our song, for a five-kopeck coin and for mercy, and least of all so that we do not become voluntary servant-beggar-women!”
“I would like to look into every matter to the bottom; I would like to think clearly about everything, to look clearly at everything — after all, every phenomenon has its causes and consequences…”
“Is a woman’s spiritual life less interesting than her organism?.. Truly, is it of no interest at all?”
“The woman question occupied me most of all. No one felt as deeply as I did the dependent, miserable position of woman.”
“I did not want a man to be the one to give me meaning and significance.”
“To be, above all, an aim unto oneself, and afterward to become either something great for one person for all time, or to devote oneself to work for everyone. To struggle for something highest, reaching far beyond everyday happiness… That is my ideal. A free human being with reason — that is my ideal.”
“I am alone, father! Alone, like a bird, like a tree in the forest. I myself have the right to go with myself or against myself.”
“I will not allow myself to be used for this! No force in the world will trample out of me the human being with independent thoughts; and if you should nevertheless succeed in doing that, then be satisfied… Then… I… am not I…”
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