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 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; 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; Lower class: Women played a significant role only as wives; Upper class: Women had strong social position. Upper class: Women had strong social position.

Gender issues in Poland in the 19th beginning of 20th century ; 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 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 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 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 55 th session of the Commission on the Status of Woman, New York, 22 February – 4 March, 2011.

Gender issues in Poland today

Gender issues: Poland in EU 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 in Poland today

Thank you very much for your attention!