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Polish Women Face a New Political Reality
2/26/2006 8:55 AM | | Prof. Magdalena Środa and Prof. Małgorzata Fuszara diagnose the situation of Polish women; Warsaw, January 20, 2006 |
Contributed by: Agnieszka Mrozik, Poland National VAW Monitor
“Using nationalist discourse, which identifies social order with patriarchal structures of social relationships and homophobia, political authorities treat women as natural sources to which men have free and unlimited access. Women and children who stand for an ideological unity are presented as an essence of the nation that has one male subject only” – said Dr Agnieszka Graff during the debate “Polish Women Face a New Political Reality,” organized by Interfaculty Scientific Circle for Gender at Warsaw University.
The debate was organized on January 20, 2006, at the Warsaw University.
The organizers of the debate invited many prominent guest-speakers, such as Prof. Małgorzata Fuszara (a lecturer at the Institute of Applied Social Studies and a cofounder of Gender Studies at Warsaw University), Dr Agnieszka Graff (a lecturer at the American Studies Center, Warsaw University, and a writer), Agnieszka Grzybek (a member of “The Greens 2004” party, ex-manageress of National Women’s Center OSKa), Joanna Piotrowska (a founder and a manageress of Feminoteka Foundation) and Prof. Magdalena Środa (a lecturer at the Faculty of Philosophy, Warsaw University, and ex-Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Men and Women).
Political reality here and now
Ola Kretkowska (Interfaculty Scientific Circle for Gender at Warsaw University), who ran the discussion, briefly described those changes in the situation of Polish women that had occurred since the recent parliamentary elections. What is worth mentioning is the cancellation of the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Men and Women and the establishment of the Department for Women, Family and Anti-discrimination at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; the promotion of Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska, a close coworker of President Lech Kaczyński, to the position of the chief of this newly created department; the appointment of Dr Hanna Wujkowska (a pro-life activist associated with an ultra catholic Radio Maria) for women’s and family issues adviser to the Prime Minister; the Prime Minister’s exposé concerning his pro-family policy in which a word “woman” was not mentioned even once; the long-standing disputes between political parties over Polish pro-family policy (i.e. the child benefit; longer maternity leave; the salary paid women who stay at home and raise their children which would depend on the number of the children; closedown of the day care centers).
The speakers were asked to diagnose the current situation of Polish women, consider whether (and under what conditions) there are chances of women’s cooperation over political divisions and propose a strategy for future actions of LGBT and women’s NGOs dealing with the issues of human rights and civic society in Poland.
The assessment of the situation of Polish women
Prof. Małgorzata Fuszara admitted that present situation of women is very difficult but she also said that we should not overestimate the interest in the gender equality issue shown by all Polish governments since 1989. She stressed that all previous governments had an arrogant and ignorant attitude towards the issue of equal status of men and women. But at the same time she agreed that the actions taken by present government are extremely dangerous as they lead to depriving women of the rest of their rights.
Magdalena Środa pointed out that there is a distinct disproportion in the amount of broadcast time devoted to the presentation of male and female opinions. According to Środa, this lack of women in the media and the politics is symptomatic. Although the social policy, which has become the bargaining card in the political disputes, concerns women mainly, it is shaped by men only.
However, as Agnieszka Grzybek observed, comparing the present situation with that of the period 1997-2001, when Poland was ruled by other right-wing parties, we may heave a sigh of relief as now Poland is obliged to abide by the gender equality directives of European Union. In Polish Labour Code there are some anti-discriminatory regulations and the general knowledge of the issue of equal status of men and women has increased considerably.
The discourse of power
Agnieszka Graff said about the highly visible phenomenon of trivialization of the women’s issue in Polish public discourse. “Using nationalist discourse, which identifies social order with patriarchal structures of social relationships and homophobia, political authorities treat women as natural sources to which men have free and unlimited access. Women and children who stand for an ideological unity are presented as an essence of the nation that has one male subject only” – she said.
In this context of dangerous connection between nationalism and sexism in the public discourse, Magdalena Środa pointed out that there is a problem with language taken over by the rightist pro-life discourse. Polish speakers have familiarized themselves with an expression of “child conceived/ unborn” standing for the fetus and the well-known “pro-family policy” is nothing more nor less than a real suspension of women’s activity in the social sphere. Only recently in vitro fertilization has been replaced by the word “genocide”.
Catholic feminists
The speakers considered that there is a very little chance to cooperate successfully with the rightist female politicians mainly because of their aversion to the gender equality environment. At the same time the speakers emphasized that a dichotomy between feminism and Catholicism is wrong. There are many catholic women who work actively for the feminist movement and their sensitivity for gender inequality does not stand in contradiction to their faith.
Strategies of action
The speakers agreed that without lobbying and decisive grass-roots initiatives it will be very difficult to improve the situation of women. It is time for clear demands, not for compromises and concessions. Joanna Piotrowska said that although present situation is generally unfavorable, it may paradoxically strengthen the civic movement and stimulate its future activity for democracy.
The debate aroused an intense interest. It lasted for almost 3 hours and attracted about 120 people.
Information
If you are interested in the activity of Interfaculty Scientific Circle for Gender at Warsaw University, do not hesitate to write to us: gender_uw@o2.pl
Compiled from:
Kobiety w nowej rzeczywistości społecznej, Małgorzata Kotowska, Feminoteka (last accessed 26 February 2006); translated by Agnieszka Mrozik
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