They acted socially, scientifically, politically, were involved, fought for their rights, and broke stereotypes. The history of women is undoubtedly the "missing half of history" that cannot be found in school textbooks. Here is a subjective selection of books about exceptional Polish women who made history.
Although they make up more than half of the population, they rarely make their way into the mainstream historical narrative, we hear little about them at school, and they rarely appear on banknotes or monuments. Fortunately, we have recently seen a trend of restoring their history. On the occasion of Women's Day, I invite you to read the review of the most interesting and best books about outstanding Polish women. The ranking is subjective, and an additional condition was a high rating on the LubimyCzytan.pl website.
Olga Wiechnik, Members of Parliament. The first eight women
Contrary to appearances, women in Poland were not given rights - they had to fight for them. To this day, it is in vain to look for information about them in history textbooks, yet their courage and determination changed Poland. In the first, post-war elections to the Legislative Sejm, there were only (or maybe as many as ???) eight women who devoted their lives to the country. They had to go through a long and difficult road to finally pave the way for the next representatives of the unnoticed half of society.
Members of Parliament. The first eight women
Zofia Moraczewska, Zofia Sokolnicka, Maria Moczydłowska, Jadwiga Dziubińska, Anna Piasecka, Gabriela Balicka, Franciszka Wilczkowiakowa and Irena Kosmowska came from different backgrounds, had completely different experiences, and yet in the Seym they fought together for women's rights, wise education, and their lives still not widely known. Olga Wiechnik's book is a must-have, especially since Women's Day was established to commemorate women's struggle for their rights.
Dorota Karaś Walentynowicz. Anna is looking for paradise
Anna Walentynowicz is a woman-legend. She became the only Polish woman to be included in the prestigious New York Times "100 Women of the Year" ranking and as "the mother of Polish independence" she was on the new cover until 1980. Anna's dismissal from work in the Gdańsk Shipyard became the ignition spark of the strike that changed the history of our country.
Walentynowicz. Anna is looking for paradise
Anna Karaś's book is an extensive story of the life of the protagonist, whose fate is intertwined with the most important events in the recent history of Poland. So we get to know a brave, stubborn, ambitious and committed woman, and for the first time we read so much about private life. From the very first pages, we learn that Anna Walentynowicz's life was different than she told her story - so we get to know the story of childhood in Ukraine and numerous life turmoil. This is undoubtedly the first such comprehensive biography of "Leading Welder".
Anna Sulińska, Olympians
"Olympians" is a position that should interest not only sports enthusiasts. Anna Sulińska tells the story of extraordinary female athletes who developed their careers in the difficult times of the Polish People's Republic. The author emphasizes:
The stories I am telling show that competition, the will to fight, and the need to win have no gender. It's just a pity that women still have to remind about it.
Olympians
It is an unusual reportage about determination, competition and the fight against discrimination. It sheds a completely different light on the history of sport and tells about the realities of life in the past system in an interesting, though bitter way. Anna Sulińska is also the author of the sensational reportage “Wniebowzięta. About flight attendants in the People's Republic of Poland.
Agnieszka Cubała, Women `44. Real stories of women in the Warsaw Uprising
Women played a huge role in the Warsaw Uprising, they constituted nearly 30% of the participants, fought and died side by side with men. Agnieszka Cubała disenchants the image of perky boys and beautiful nurses - shows the full picture of the Warsaw Uprising. It's not a beautiful, glazed story, it's blood and sweat, rape, courage, real life and a very real death.
Women '44. Real stories of women in the Warsaw Uprising
In the pages of the book, we learn about the biographies of wonderful and brave girls, their memories and emotions, and the fight for their own place in the insurgent army. Although it would seem that everything has been written about the Uprising - I am sure that this book will open your eyes more than once to the previously overlooked aspects.
Read also:Not only nurses. Women soldiers in the Warsaw Uprising
Magdalena Kicińska, Ms. Stefa
There would be no Janusz Korczak without Stefania Wilczyńska. Emanuel Ringelblum, the chronicler of the Warsaw ghetto, wrote about them:“All the time, before and during the war, Korczak worked together with Mrs. Stefania Wilczyńska. They have cooperated with each other all their lives. Even death did not separate them. […] Everything related to the person of Korczak - boarding school, promoting love for children, etc. - all these are the achievements of both of them. It is difficult to say where Korczak begins and Wilczyńska ends. ”
Ms. Stefa
They created many theories about raising children together, ran the Orphans' Home together, went hand in hand to the gas chamber holding children in their hands . Stefania, however, is not a well-known and appreciated figure, which is why Magdalena Kicińska's reportage is an extremely important and necessary book. Undoubtedly, working on it must have been difficult - because little is known about Stefania's life, and she did not talk too much about herself. But her work, love for children and dedication deserve to be commemorated.
Karolina Wasielewska, Digital Girls
It is quite commonly believed that computer science is a typically male occupation. Nothing could be more wrong! Karolina Wasielewska's book introduces us to the history of computer science in Poland and shows the great role of women - pioneers of this industry. It turns out that women built computers, created programming languages and the first applications. Unfortunately, history has completely forgotten about them.
Digitalgirls
Last year, Historical Curiosities took the patronage over the book "Pioneers of the Internet" by Claire L. Evans, which in turn told about extraordinary visionaries working around the world, so I am glad that Karolina Wasielewska introduced us to the Polish context. Apart from the profiles of extraordinary women, we can also definitely broaden our knowledge about the development of the IT industry in our country.
Also read: Without these women, there would be no Internet. Who were the pioneers of the digital industry?
Anna Bikont "Sendler. Hidden "
Irena Sendler is undoubtedly one of the greatest heroes of our country, but also a symbolic woman. She remained Human in the most tragic times. She gave her whole life to children, along with the so-called "Sendler's net" she saved them from the Warsaw ghetto. She was a social activist, a nurse in the Warsaw Uprising, and an activist for women after the war. Many myths have arisen around her biography, about which Anna Bikont writes in the most detailed biography of the heroine that has been released on the market so far.
Sendler. In hiding
The pages of the book show a whole network of people involved in helping, which absolutely does not diminish the heroine, but makes her actions during World War II real. But "Sendler. In Hidden "is also a wonderful book about the rescued, those who sought shelter and were very lucky to find it.
Anna Kowalczyk The Missing Half of History
Anna Kowalczyk's book could boldly appear on the school's obligatory reading list, because it tells in a comprehensive way about the forgotten history of women in Poland and has already attracted crowds of young people to read, eager to learn about women's stories.
The missing half of history
"The Missing Half of History" is the perfect starting point for further exploration and research. It shows the history of women in Poland:students of the Flying University, enthusiasts, workers, servants, women of science and politics. A position that was missing on our market for a long time!
Marie Curie. Light in the dark
This book is undoubtedly a book different than any other. Although a lot has been written about Maria Skłodowska-Curie, a graphic novel about our outstanding Nobel Prize winner is worth reading even if you already know her biography very well. In an attractive, slightly shortened form, it presents the fate of Maria from her early childhood, and - importantly - places her character in context. From the pages of the comic book, we will find out why Maria could not study in Poland, how it happened that both she and her sister ended up in Paris, and what difficulties she faced there. We meet a determined, hardworking, wildly intelligent woman who is in love with science.
Maria Skłodowska-Curie. Light in the dark
Contrary to appearances, the story is full of interesting facts, and the reading is definitely made more pleasant by the beautiful illustrations of the Polish graphic artist Anna Błaszczak.
Anna Rudnicka-Litwinek, Girls on wings
Female pilots? Of course! It turns out that women, on a par with men, conquered the skies, were machine builders and piloted fighters. This unique book presents the profiles of wonderful, brave and stereotypical women who dreamed of flying. However, they had to go through a difficult path, because this world was commonly believed to be reserved for men.
Girls on the wings. Polish aviators who conquered the sky
The book is extremely inspiring, it shows that every woman should make her dreams come true. It presents a decidedly little-known part of Polish history. It's worth it, even if you're not into flying!
And what are your favorite books on women in history?