Women and the right to vote: why is it worth voting?

Did you know that back in 1917 women in Poland (and not only) did not have the right to vote? Being able to vote is our right and privilege. Did you know that the authors of the “boring” reading assignments in our Polish classes also had another activist side? Find out what the struggle for voting rights in Poland looked like and why it is worth participating in elections.

Voting rights were not granted to women by nature, God or men. Women won them with blood, sweat and tears. However, we don’t learn about it in school, and the names of suffragettes are still unknown to many. History is portrayed from the male perspective, so it is well complemented by herstory. A crucial part of the equation is women gaining the right to vote. This is an advancement in human history and a milestone towards equal rights for women and men..

Voting rights in Poland: how did it start?

Women’s and feminist movements in Poland boast a long-standing tradition, diverse form and many successes. It all began in the 18th century and was correlated with the fight for independence. The first organisations were formed after the Kościuszko Insurrection. It was the Women’s Patriotic Charity Society, led by Klementyna Tańska-Hoffmanowa (1798-1845) in Warsaw.