Женщины в литовских волшебных сказках

ENThe article deals with the image of woman in Lithuanian fairytales. The main purpose is to reveal the roles of daughter, stepdaughter, sister, wife and mother. Problems concerning the family or kin relations, conditioned by a social structure of patriarchal society, are also discussed. The women depicted in Lithuanian fairytales destroy the myths of man's superiority. The following conclusion is drawn: although in patriarchal society cultural traditions stimulate the formation of stereotypical views on women and man, in many cases man's fate belongs to women's actions, self-sacrifice and magic power.