Article Title
Lost between the Waves? The Paradoxes of Feminist Chronology and Activism in Contemporary Poland
Abstract
The complexities of Polish gender politics can be conceptualized as a series of paradoxes. Until recently, Polish feminists had denied the very possibility of a Polish women’s movement. This article argues that Polish feminism resists the chronology of “waves”: it uses styles and tactics characteristic of the third wave (irony, high theory, camp, cross-dressing, etc.) to achieve typically second wave aims (reproductive rights, equal pay, etc.). It then engages with a historical paradox: the phenomenon of backlash before feminism. Rejecting the political in favour of the personal was compatible with psycho-sexual dynamics already in progress – these were a defence against the intrusiveness of state involved in building a deeply conservative private sphere. The article then moves onto an examination of the present deadlock between the Catholic church, the post-communist government and the women’s movement.
Recommended Citation
Graff, Agnieszka
(2003).
Lost between the Waves? The Paradoxes of Feminist Chronology and Activism in Contemporary Poland.
Journal of International Women's Studies, 4(2), 100-116.
Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol4/iss2/9