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Abstract

Crossing Borders: An Example of the Polish Women’s Alliance of America
 Less than one hundred and twenty years ago, the active participation of Polish women in the social life of the American Polonia did not fit into the “natural order of things.” Searching for the possibility of reaching out their own ethnic group and working on its behalf, Polish immigrant women made gradual efforts to create their own organization, which resulted in the establishment of the Polish Women’s Alliance of America in 1898. The idea of the creation of PWAA shows the ways by which Polish women not only constructed, but also redefined the sense of ethnic belonging, thus setting new boundaries of their activity. By showing the role of women in the organizational life of the American Polonia, the article contradicts views about their passive attitude and at the same time offers an opportunity to look at an example of crossing the next borders by women, visible in bolder and more frequent coming out of the private sphere in favor of involvement in the public one.