WHAT BEING A WOMAN IN POLAND MEANS - THE NATIONAL IDENTITY OF WOMEN OVER 50 YEARS OF AGE IN POLAND

Abstract

The paper analysis the research materiał collected during seven interviews with women of 50+ years
of age conducted by students of the University of Łódź specializing in Adult Education. The aim of the

research was to define the factors which influence the concept of national identity. The information was collected on the basis of the following questions: What does it mean to be a Pole and a woman to you?; What does the concept of patriotism mean to you?; When did you feel that you are a Polish woman?; What do you understand by ‘Polish identity’ and how was this ‘Polish identity’ shaped?

On the one hand the analysis is based on the theoretical model of national identity developed by P. Boski and on the other hand by a paper written by Jolanta Mikulska in which the author presents the criteria which identify the national identity as one of the elements of the social identity of individual people. The feedback presented proves, that the respondents treat the struggle for the independence of ones country as the primary and the most important task of patriots. This attitude defined by heroism and martyrdom, which constitute the pattern of a Citizen seems to be typical of less educated persons. While responding to the ąuestionnaire - the image of a Polish woman occurs to be eąuated with Catholicism, patriotism, good cooking, admiration for Polish naturę, and devotion to bringing up children. Nonę of the respondents mentioned professional career, and only one mentioned social activity as an element of citizenship. It seems than that Polish identity is still understood as martyrdom and there is little space in it for everyday work for the benefit of the country.