After viewing the exhibition “The Retro Woman in the Press of the Time” at the Concordia Gallery, I am glad that the 1920s and 1930s have faded into oblivion. I viewed the exhibition with great interest and read the excerpts from press articles presented there. Not a word in them mentions that in Poland, in 1918, women received both passive and active voting rights. The image of a lady from the illustrated social and cultural weekly published in Kraków from 1935 to 1939, called ”AS”, is extremely biased and full of stereotypes.
The “gentlewomen” code printed by “AS” presents an unpleasant creature. Ladies in mink, fox and karakul coats, with long cigarette holders and backless necklines, were supposed to restrain the vices attributed to their nature.
What kind of woman is presented by “AS”? A quarrelsome, petty materialist who takes advantage of her husband. She is not allowed to show emotions or identify with them. She must endure the tight corset of norms and requirements. Jealous and envious, she will never catch up with a man. One of the final issues of “AS” from 1939 is harsh and ruthless toward the women of the interwar period. Without reason. After all, during the occupation they would survive being murdered and raped, abandoned by men, while protecting their children. Where did they suddenly find this strength if until then they had occupied themselves with trivialities and constantly had to be corrected and taught?!
At the exhibition, I looked with pleasure at their great-granddaughters. Beautiful, independent, aware of their worth. Holding high positions in society and earning their own living. Independent women of the 21st century.
Unfortunately, as Grzegorz Roman informed us, the exhibition is no longer there.
(information from Grażyna Hanaf)