Nasze bojownice: Celebrating 100 Years of Polish Women's Suffrage and Emancipation

This exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of Polish women gaining suffrage by highlighting the "female fighters" who advocated for equal rights. It explores the historical struggle for emancipation, focusing on education, economic independence, and political participation.

The exhibition "Nasze bojownice. 100-lecie praw wyborczych Polek" (Our Female Fighters. 100th Anniversary of Polish Women's Suffrage) delves into the history of Polish women's fight for emancipation and equal rights, culminating in the granting of suffrage. Drawing inspiration from Cecylia Walewska's 1930 book, the exhibition, curated by Agnieszka Grzybek and Anna Czerwińska, focuses on the key figures and challenges faced by women in the Polish context across the three partitions. The narrative traces the evolution of feminist demands, beginning with the pursuit of economic self-sufficiency through access to education and employment. It highlights the limited educational opportunities available to women in the 19th century, such as the Wyższe Kursy dla Kobiet in Krakow and the secret Uniwersytet Latający in Warsaw, emphasizing the societal barriers that often led to poverty if women lacked family support. The exhibition details how the "women's question" became a prominent topic in the press from the 1870s onwards, advocating for educational reform and access to professions previously exclusive to men. The critical turning point was the post-1905 era, when the demand for women's suffrage became central to the emancipation movement, leading to women's participation in political and even armed struggle for Poland's independence. The exhibition showcases archival materials such as flyers, posters, announcements, and press clippings, complemented by contemporary portraits by Beata Sosnowska and quotes from prominent activists, all presented in the symbolic colors of purple, white, and green.