What support for feminism in Poland?
PR dla Zagranicy
Veronika Joy
12.03.2013 12:00
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What support for feminism in Poland?
MANIFA demonstrations have been organised in Poland to mark Women's Day since 2000. But are they representative of Polish women as a whole?
MANIFA is an annual demonstration organised in honor of International Women's Day. In Warsaw, the slogan this year was "Independance for Polish woman." The festivities began in front of the Palace of Culture and Science, and ended before the Parliament. PAP/EPA/Thomas Gzella
MANIFA is the slang abbreviation of the word "manifestacja" or "protest" which was carried out in this form by the anti-governmental opposition in the 1980s.
An American feminist living in Krakow, Julie Land, wrote her master thesis at Jagiellonian University on feminism in Poland. Land was an observer of the festivities.
"The fact that a few women make it to the top doesn't mean it's better for the rest of woman. Woman still statistically make less money and are poorer," said Land.
"MANIFA is really a chance for woman and for feminists to show that they're powerful and that these issues that are not address during the rest of the year....are important."
Demonstrations took place in the cities of Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Lodz, Wroclaw and Kielce following International Women's Day last week.
Danuta Isler reports.