BSU bulletin. Philosophy
Bibliographic description:
Philosophical Approaches to Interpreting the Image of Women in Public Consciousness // BSU bulletin. Philosophy. - 2026. №2. . - С. 79-92.
Title:
Philosophical Approaches to Interpreting the Image of Women in Public Consciousness
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The image of women has historically functioned not only as a cultural or gender representation, but also as a symbolic form through which societies express their understanding of human nature, moral values, and social order. In social philosophy such symbolic images are closely connected to the structure of public consciousness and reflect broader transformations in anthropological and normative models of human existence.
The study is based on historical-philosophical analysis and a comparative examination of philosophical and socio-theoretical texts. We have analyzed classical works in philosophy (Aristotle, Kant), social theory (Durkheim, Weber), and contemporary socio-philosophical approaches (Bourdieu, Foucault, Habermas) in conjunction with current research in gender and cultural theory.
The research has identified several foundational philosophical approaches to interpreting the image of women, including anthropological, ethical, socio-philosophical, and power- oriented ones. These approaches demonstrate that representations of women function as symbolic structures through which societies express dominant values, moral ideals, and social expectations.
A comparative analysis of these approaches has revealed that the image of women simultaneously serves multiple functions: it reflects dominant conceptions of human nature, embodies moral attitudes, and participates in the reproduction of social norms and symbolic hierarchies. Thus, the transformation of the image of women should be understood as a reflection of deeper shifts within the public consciousness and the mechanisms through which societies construct models of human identity and social order.
The study is based on historical-philosophical analysis and a comparative examination of philosophical and socio-theoretical texts. We have analyzed classical works in philosophy (Aristotle, Kant), social theory (Durkheim, Weber), and contemporary socio-philosophical approaches (Bourdieu, Foucault, Habermas) in conjunction with current research in gender and cultural theory.
The research has identified several foundational philosophical approaches to interpreting the image of women, including anthropological, ethical, socio-philosophical, and power- oriented ones. These approaches demonstrate that representations of women function as symbolic structures through which societies express dominant values, moral ideals, and social expectations.
A comparative analysis of these approaches has revealed that the image of women simultaneously serves multiple functions: it reflects dominant conceptions of human nature, embodies moral attitudes, and participates in the reproduction of social norms and symbolic hierarchies. Thus, the transformation of the image of women should be understood as a reflection of deeper shifts within the public consciousness and the mechanisms through which societies construct models of human identity and social order.
Keywords:
image of women, public consciousness, social philosophy, philosophical anthropology, symbolic representations, social norms, symbolic power, subjectivity, normalization, discursive practices.
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