The image of Eastern European women through the Western lens: a pop-cultural analysis

Abstract

The main objective of the article is to consider the issue of pop cultural stereotypisation, its background, and to apply post-colonial and feminist criticism as tools for the main analysis. It aims to describe the global hierarchy and post-colonial dynamics between the West and the East, while also attempting to explain the context behind the two ideas and their connotations. It uses both historical and theoretical academic resources to establish a clear understanding of the meaning behind the terms used. In the latter subchapter, the problems connected with the representation of Slavic women emerge. Certain mechanisms related to facile and improper imagery of Eastern Europe and women are explained, with an emphasis on objectification and the lack of agency of the fictional characters portrayed in Western media. Finally, the examples derived from mass culture are closely analysed, referring to the already existing discourse about stereotypes and unfair representation of Slavic women.