Associate Professor at the University of Warsaw spoke about women in the Constitution, women’s lack of agency in religious thought (promoted by John Paul II), constitutional provisions, and the unlawful introduction of religion into schools.
In her lecture, she also mentioned how the citizens of Poland created the greatest and most dangerous politician, who, according to Monika Płatek, is Tadeusz Rydzyk. Professor Płatek believes that the human need to feel important and to be heard was extremely important in the creation of Rydzyk. This need was not met after 1989. She also said that in the past the “Reds” could do more, while today it is the “Blacks.” She explained that religion was introduced into schools in the 1990s in violation of the law.
The lecture offered interesting explanations of the mechanisms functioning in the new democracy for Poles. Monika Płatek emphasized that communism gave everyone, among other things, the opportunity to participate free of charge in activities now considered elite, such as horseback riding and tennis. In those days, a person of modest means was respected and considered honest. In democracy and capitalism, the principles and value system changed. Poor people do not have access to expensive forms of entertainment and self-development, and according to Płatek, this change strongly influenced the mentality of Poles.
The lecture was most interesting when Professor Płatek spoke about feminism.
– Social differences should not arise from biological differences, Monika Płatek said. – For many years, we have had a wage inequality index; women earn less. Why? This results from patriarchal thinking: the man supports the family, while women’s earnings are an addition to the household budget. And although a woman works just like a man, she is paid less, while her work at home is called sacrificing herself for the family, caregiving, and tending the home, Płatek added.
From a feminist perspective, according to Płatek, the point is not to make women equal to men, but to ensure that gender differences do not lead to the domination of one sex over the other. If women wanted to equal men, Professor Płatek added, they would have to murder and rape much more often, or get drunk. That is why she did not recommend gender equality to women.