Successful women in the Polish People’s Republic in the light of publications of the magazine «Zwierciadło: Pismo Ligi Kobiet Polskich»

Abstract

The aim of the scientific research included in the paper was to show the issue of Polish women and the cultural changes in the Polish People’s Republic in the end of 1980s. These transformations were reflected in women’s magazines, including in «Zwierciadło», being also a platform for disseminating the activities of the only official women’s movement at that time – League of Polish Women among readers. The research studies are new; so far scientific research on the importance of the women’s press on the subject of «Zwierciadło» has been conducted only by the author of this study. The method of press analysis, analysing individual studies of the «Zwierciadło» magazine, and the historical method of analysing source documents and literature on the subject were used in the study. As a result of the study, an image of women achieving professional, social and, thus, personal success, disseminated in «Zwierciadło», was shown. The image also demonstrated some role models for women – what the women’s success which Polish women should strive for can and should look like. «Zwierciadło: Pismo Ligi Kobiet Polskich», a magazine addressed to women, was published in 1982–1990 and promoted the organization and its achievements. The magazine sought to present issues concerning the life of Polish women, their everyday problems, but also successes to be enjoyed by Polish women and women from abroad. The magazine provided examples of women’s careers. Professional work was to be a way to personal success and social advancement. The image of successful women presented in the magazine differed from the possibility to achieve the success by typical magazine’s readers, including League of Polish Women members.