Democracy's other half
"Copernicus was a woman," a 19-year-old man murmured ironically on seeing a feminist demonstration in front of the Copernicus Monument in Warsaw. The seemingly simple issue of the famed Polish astronomer's gender appeared to incite a debate. "Kopernik byla mezczyzna" ("Copernica was a man") said a poster decorating the monument of the puzzled astronomer, suggesting that trivia such as gender doesn't matter.
Attempts to clarify any uncertainty about Copernicus' gender was not the only aim of the rally held on March 8, International Women's Day. The motto for the demonstration, which attracted about 100 participants and half as many reporters, was "Democracy without women is half a democracy."
"We are fed up with left-wing drivel about beautiful women and right-wing platitudes about family and unborn children," said Agnieszka Graff. However, it mainly the right wing that came under fire.
"Solidarity Election Action (AWS) forces indigent women to breed poverty," said banners referring to the total abortion ban introduced in 1993. Emblazoned slogans addressed other issues, like domestic violence. "Women, stop sucking, start biting," said one banner. "If he loves, he doesn't beat you; if he doesn't, he must leave," proclaimed others. An attraction on rainy ulica Krakowskie Przedmiescie, the colorful crowd walked to plac Zamkowy, whistling while handing out purple balloons and performing a quasi-religious ceremony on the way.
The activity was not all fun though, with some participants pointing out hard economic data regarding the plight of women. "Women are discriminated against in the job market," claimed the organizers. "Many employers force women to take pregnancy tests." They also claimed that women are the first to be laid off. Furthermore, according to one women's group representative, "For the work of the same value a woman gets 30% less (pay) than a man."
"Despite the fact that (women) are better educated than men in Poland, they constitute about 60% of the unemployed in the country," said Elwira Chrusciel, another demonstration organizer.
An onlooker agreed. "They are right. ... I have been looking for a job for three years and I haven't been able to find anything. Because I'm in a third group - an invalid." She also said that being a woman impaired her chances to get a job.
Participants also asserted that while looking for a job, a woman has to meet requirements that have nothing to do with her qualifications.
"At one point (when I was looking for a job), I phoned and gave my data to job agencies. One of the questions was about my weight and height. So, it turned out my qualifications and abilities would not be enough," said Chrusciel. "Men won't give me a job if I'm overweight."
But not everybody shared this view.
"If women wanted to, they could have the same jobs as men," said Monika, a 19-year-old Physical Education Academy (AWF) student, who watched the demonstration.
While discriminatory practices are prohibited by the 1997 Constitution, there are still no laws enforcing equal status, in spite of obligations made by the government during the 5th Women's Conference in Beijing in 1995. However, certain steps have to be taken if Poland wants to join the European Union (EU). The European Economic Community Treaty contains provisions on the equal status of male and female employees. It also addresses issues of equal pay, equal access to employment, professional training, and promotion and work conditions. According to the department of European integration in the Labor Ministry, Poland has to implement these provisions by the end of 2002.
