Polish feminism? Count me in, darling | Aleksandra Szyllo (The Guardian)
►http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/08/polish-feminism
Aleksandra Szyllo: Gazeta Wyborcza: I never thought of myself as a feminist until a conference of Polish diplomats cast me as their ’sweetheart’ female mascot
#Polish_feminism ? Count me in, darling | Aleksandra Szyllo | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
►http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/08/polish-feminism
If someone had asked me a week ago if I was a feminist I would have hesitated. Not because I primarily consider myself a “sweet thing” or a human milk-bottle. On the contrary. I have earned a degree and run a company – both while pregnant and with my kids on my lap. After I closed down my own business, I was hired by the company of my dreams. When I spoke proudly about being the mother of two children during the job interview, the news was received warmly. I thought to myself: maybe those feminists are exaggerating – aren’t there more pressing problems in this world?
That was until I attended a certain conference in my role as an editor. It was a three-day event in a restored castle, dealing with economic and social problems in Poland and abroad. On the first day, I was asked whether I knew what I would write about on my return. On the second day, I was asked more persistently. It soon became clear that one topic stood out, demanding to be written in red ink – or rather in screaming red lipstick – “women at conferences”.