Political and Cultural Activism of Women As Seen in Handwritten and Printed Press in the Polish Enlightenment (Eighteenth Century)

The rapid development of the press in the Republic of Poland in the eighteenth century enabled a much more efficient transfer of information. During the Enlightenment, the Polish press market was graced by a number of magazines the editors of which were guided by the goals of reforming, moralizing, and promoting scientific knowledge. At the same time, the old Polish social communication system based on the creation and sending of handwritten newspapers to recipients was still in operation. In various press outlets in the Republic of Poland in the second half of the eighteenth century, one can also find an ever‑growing amount of information devoted to women. In addition to pedagogical issues that were discussed in the Enlightenment, i.e., the upbringing and education of girls, information about women’s activities, which were diverse in their nature, spread more and more widely. Both in printed and handwritten newspapers, one can, above all, read about the achievements of women in the fields of politics and culture. Although Polish women in the eighteenth century had limited opportunities to act in politics and culture, resulting from the specificity of the Polish state system and from the dominance of men, their important role in these areas was often highlighted in the press. Press advertisements also allow us to conclude that literary works written by women could take root in social consciousness thanks to newspaper advertising.

The rapid development of the press in the Republic of Poland in the eighteenth century enabled a much more efficient transfer of information. During the Enlightenment, the Polish press market was graced by a number of magazines the editors of which were guided by the goals of reforming, moralizing, and promoting scientific knowledge. At the same time, the old Polish social communication system based on the creation and sending of handwritten newspapers to recipients was still in operation. In various press outlets in the Republic of Poland in the second half of the eighteenth century, one can also find an ever‑growing amount of information devoted to women. In addition to pedagogical issues that were discussed in the Enlightenment, i.e., the upbringing and education of girls, information about women’s activities, which were diverse in their nature, spread more and more widely. Both in printed and handwritten newspapers, one can, above all, read about the achievements of women in the fields of politics and culture. Although Polish women in the eighteenth century had limited opportunities to act in politics and culture, resulting from the specificity of the Polish state system and from the dominance of men, their important role in these areas was often highlighted in the press. Press advertisements also allow us to conclude that literary works written by women could take root in social consciousness thanks to newspaper advertising.