Jolanta Syguła

The Position and Role of Polish Women in Their Families in the 19th Century

This essay is only the attempt of synthetic depiction a vexed issue about both the position and role of women in the 19th century. Taking new sources into consideration I tried to show that within the 19th century the situation of Polish women almost did not change. On the one hand, there was a consequence of their passive attitude, on the other one, of standing convictions and manners which glorified men by emphasizing at the same time a minor role of women towards the other members of family. Therefore, an apt encapsulation of the matter was propounded by Bolesław Prus in his Annales which is as follows: “Woman – as a daughter considers herself as an inferior creature towards her brothers and as a trouble for her parents, who require more work, gratitude and dedication from her than their sons. As a wife – she is a slave of her husband who has a duty, if he wants and can, to feed and clothe her, even to take care of her amusements, but simultaneously he has the right not to allow her to leave home.” However, continuous research and new revelations do not mean that everything was said on this subject, because it still remains an open question needed to be analysed and reinterpreted by scholars. Namely, it would be valuable to the present state of research, if the reasons for the modification in favour of Polish women during the first world war could be found. Especially, from my point of view, if we are able to give an answer to the following questions.
Firstly, as far as it was a repercussion of their personal efforts made as a result of the awakening  of their consciousness of the necessity of changing both in their social and private sphere of life. Secondly, as far as it was a result of alterations in men’s mentality indicated by their approval for ‘women’s going to world’. Finally, did events in the United States and in Europe have impact on mentioned changes. Giving the answer will not be so simple owing to a pausity both of information about women in traditional sources and of materials written by them. Therefore, it seems to be really helpful to reach for complementary means used by scholars of mentality, historians of conception and that is also peculiar to sociology and psychology as well. Moreover, calling attention for press and passing prints which explained current problems and affairs happened in those days.