Gender issues
in Poland
Dr. Maria Aleksandrovich, PhD
Department of Psychology
Pomeranian University, Slupsk, Poland
Presented on the 21st of October 2013
At the Scientific Seminar in the University in Usti nad Labem
“Women and men in the Polish Republic have
equal rights in family, politics, society and
economics. Women and men have equal rights, in
particular to education, employment and
promotion, equal pay for work of equal value, to
social security, to hold onces, and to receive public
honours and decorations.
No one shall be discriminated against in political,
social or economic life for any reason.”
Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, art. 32.2, 33.1/2
Gender issues in Poland
until the end of the 19th century
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In Polish history we can see ‘mild
patriarchalism’ in the relations between
people of different genders and respect to
women from the men’s side from Middle
Age;
Lower class: Women played a significant
role only as wives;
Upper class: Women had strong social
position.
Gender issues in Poland
in the 19th beginning of 20th century
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In 1810 ‘The regulation of girls boarding
schools and schools for girls’, prepared by the
Chamber of Education;
In 1825 in Warsaw the Governesses’ Institute
was opened, which was later transformed
into the State Institute for Female Education;
In 1840 Julia Molińska opened the first
secondary school for girls;
In 1891 the State Dental School for Women was
opened in Warsaw;
Gender issues in Poland
in the 19th beginning of 20th century
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In Poland women first gained the right to
study at university level at the end of the
19th century.
In 1919 the Education Programme for
Secondary Schools gave a solid basis for the
reconstruction of Polish secondary education;
In 1920 the new curricula came with the
same terms in education for girls and boys.
Gender issues in Poland
in the 20th century
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In October of 1939, a Secret Teaching
Organization was created;
In 1940 the Department of Education and
Culture of the Government Delegation for
Poland was created;
The development of the education system
was approved by the act on 16th July 1961,
this act agreed the political system and
organisational structure of schools: schools
became uniformed, free, public and secular.
Gender issues in Poland
in the 20th century
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Since 1990 many individuals or organizations
have opened schools at all levels. Private
schooling is not well developed and
constitutes a small percentage of all schools.
The percentage of gender division is basically
insignicant.
Gender issues in Poland today
From the address by Ms Elzbieta Radziszewska Government
Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment at the 55th session of the
Commission on the Status of Woman,
New York, 22 February – 4 March, 2011.
Gender issues in Poland today
Gender issues in Poland today
Gender issues: Poland in EU
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Thanks to girls’ great strides in education in recent years,
today’s 15-year-old girls are, on average, more ambitious
than boys. However, boys’ and girls’ decision to pursue
certain careers, and make the most of their potential, is
still driven by factors that are not necessarily related to
their actual skills.
On average, girls are 11 percentage points more likely than
boys to expect to work as legislators, senior officials,
managers and professionals;
Only 5% of girls in OECD countries, on average, expect a
career in engineering and computing, while 18% of boys
expect a career in these fields;
In every OECD country, more girls than boys expect a
career in health and medicine.
Gender issues: Poland in EU
Gender issues: Poland in EU
Gender issues: Poland in EU
Gender issues in Poland today
Thank you very much for your
attention!