Women in Poland

Poland was among the first nations to grant women legal rights: women's suffrage was enacted in 1918[9] after the country regained independence that year, following the 123-year period of partition and foreign rule. In 1932 Poland made marital rape illegal. Despite the improvement of the state's policies regarding women's rights, Polish women still faced discrimination on various levels. The concept of the "glass ceiling" in Polish society was formed during the interwar period.[10] Women had to compete with men mainly for well-paid, high-prestige positions.[10]However, women's salaries continue to be lower than men in almost all sectors.[10]

During the communist era, women were ostensibly granted equal legal rights, and the official government rhetoric was one of supporting gender equality, as in other communist states. Women saw significant gains under the communist régime, such as better access to education and more equal involvement in the workforce. The improvement to women's conditions during the communist era was significantly influenced by the socialist pro-birth position, seeking an increase in the population.[11] Pro-natalist policies were implemented by "generous maternity leave benefits and state contributions to child rearing".[11] After martial law in Poland, the first publications discussing feminist ideas appeared in the public sphere, which were sometimes considered cover for the actual social situation.[10] Society mainly perceived feminism as an ideology alien to the Polish culture and mentality.[10] Communist leaders claimed that women in Poland obtained equal rights as a result of socialistic social processes, and used that statement to explain why there was a lack of – and no need for – feminism in Poland.[10]

The fall of communism in Poland meant the shaking up of the country's politics and economy, as well as initial economic and social destabilization. In the post-socialist workforce, women occupied mainly sectors of lower economic priority and light industry, due to factors such as selecting for types of education and training more compatible with family life (usually paid less), discrimination and gender stereotypes.[12] This pattern of gender employment inequality was viewed by the majority as the result of women's primary role in the family, as well as deeply rooted Polish culture and the tradition of the patriarchal system.[12] The transition period was especially difficult for women, although men were also negatively affected. As of 2017, the employment rate for women aged 20–64 was 63.6%, compared to men's rate of 78.2%.[13] Although Poland has the image of a conservative country, often depicted as such in Western media, it actually has high numbers of professional women and women in business,[14] and it also has one of the lowest gender pay gaps in the European Union.[15] One of the obstacles faced by contemporary women in Poland is the anti-abortion law. Together with the figure of the "Polish Mother", abortion restrictions are used to encourage women to have many children.[12][16] This ideology reinforces the view that women's place is in the home.[12] The Polish Mother symbol is a stereotype strongly cemented in the Polish consciousness and which was shaped by the turbulent history of the nation.[16] During the long occupation, the responsibility for maintaining national identity fell on mothers, whose main task was the "upbringing of children".[16] Despite the strict legislation and conservative political discourse, Poland has one of the lowest fertility rates in Europe.[17]

The status of women in contemporary Poland must be understood in the context of the political scene and of the role that the church plays in society. This is especially true with regard to reproductive rights. Poland is a country strongly influenced by Roman Catholicism, and religion often shapes politics and social views. Law and Justice, abbreviated PiS, is a national-conservative,[18][19] and Christian democratic[20][21] political party in Poland. With 237 seats in the Sejm and 66 in the Senate, it is currently the largest party in the Polish parliament.

Poland has been part of the European Union (EU) since 2004. As such, it is subject to EU directives. As part of the EU, Poland is socially influenced by 'Western' views, but there are regional differences between the western and the eastern parts of the country – "Poland A and B". Poland also has a significant rural population: about 40%,[22] which is deeply conservative.[23]

• Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Poland - Women". Encyclopedia of Women's History.