Women as participants of government in Poland after 1989 Cover Image

Kobiety jako uczestniczki sprawowania władzy w Polsce po 1989 r.
Women as participants of government in Poland after 1989

Author(s): Beata Pająk-Patkowska
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Political history, Electoral systems, Methodology and research technology, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Present Times (2010 - today)
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: women in politics; women in power; the Third Polish Republic;

Summary/Abstract: Basing on the analysis of available statistical data, this article presents Polish women’s participation in the processes of exercising political power (legislative and executive) within central institutions of the state. The analysis covered a time frame between 1989 and 2015. The reasons for disparities between the numbers of women and men in political authorities as well as its possible consequences have also been illustrated. The received results allow arriving at the following conclusions. In the analysed period, a considerable increase in the number of women in both chambers of the Polish parliament and the subsequent governments was observed. However, the numbers are still far from political parity. In case of the government, the increased presence of women holding posts of the heads of ministries for affairs traditionally linked with feminine activity (e.g. culture, education, social policy) can also be underlined. Inequality within the area of exercising political authority may exert a significant impact on the society, i.e. limit the ability to shape the state policy within areas particularly interesting to women or reinforce gender stereotypes in the society.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 205-216
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish