The feminist movement in Poland: divided we stand
Agnieszka Kwiatkowska
University of Warsaw
Agenda
- The beginnings
- Communist state and women’s emancipation
- Renewal of feminist movement after 1989
- Movement divides
- Searching for political and social allies
To a Polish Mother (1831)
O Polish Mother, if the radiant eyes
Of genius kindle in thy darling’s face,
If even in his childish aspect rise
The pride and honour of his ancient race; [...]
O Polish Mother, ill must be his part!
Before the Mother of Our Sorrows kneel;
Gaze on the sword that cleaves her living heart—
Such is the cruel blow thy breast shall feel!
— Adam Mickiewicz
(translation: Jewell Parish and George Rapall Noyes)
Woman as a worker
Official posters of the Communist period
| “Young people — onward to fight for a happy socialist Polish village!” | “We serve working people courteusly and fast” |
Combining the roles
Official posters of the Communist period
| “Brave girl” (movie poster) |
“We greet all women working for peace and wellbeing of the homeland!” |
Sewing workshop organised by the Women’s League (1947)
Women situation during Communism
- Uneven distribution of wages and prestige between women-dominated and men-dominated industries (e.g., high status of male coal miners, low status of female knitters)
- Hampering women’s access to management positions
- Dominance of men in party and state authorities
- Conservative family model
- Home violence and sexual abuse
- Sexism rooted in language and media
Pro-choice protests, Warsaw
Langenort: A floating abortion clinic at Poland’s seashore (1993)
Divisions within the feminist movement
- Programmatic: moderate vs. radical
- Form of dominant type of actions: lobbying vs. carnival
- Political alignment: liberal centre vs. leftist
Manifa, Warsaw (2009)
Manifa: slogans and themes
- 2000: “Democracy without women is half democracy”
- 2001: “Don’t let them shut your lips”
- 2002: “My life — my choice”
- 2003: “Our bodies, our lives, our rights”
- 2004: “Girls, action is needed!”
- 2005: “We’re strong, stronger together”
- 2006: “Let’s fight together, let’s be free, let’s protect our rights!”
- 2007: “The great march of women’s solidarity”
- 2008: “We all agree — we want to be free”
- 2009: “Another government, same babble”
- 2010: “Nurseries, not stadiums”
- 2011: “Enough exploitation, we quit the service”
- 2012: “Let’s cut the umbilical cord” (anti-clerical)
“Enough exploitation — we quit the service!”
Women’s Party
- More women in politics
- Healthcare for women (esp. during pregnancy and delivery)
- Restitution of the Alimony Fund
- Legalizing abortion
- Decommissioning large state-run orphanages in favour of small family-run ones
- Harsher punishments for rape, forcing prostitution
- Pro-family policies
- Lone mother care
- Refunding contraceptives and infertility treatment
“Everything for the future — nothing to hide”
The Congress of Women
- “Time for election! Time for women! Time for solidarity!”
- Bring parity bills into motion
- Increase government efforts for equal status of women and men
- Introduce an annual government report on women’s situation
- Refund in vitro conception
- Change education system to better prevent discrimination of women
NSM (feminism) and political forces alliances (Offe 1985)
| Alliances | Issue movements: feminism and human rights |
|---|---|
| Conservative-liberal right plus new movements |
|
| Conservative-liberal right plus social-democratic etc. left |
|
| Social-democratic left plus new movements |
|
Thank you for your attention!
kwiatkowska@agnieszka.es