The League of Women (Liga Kobiet) – the conditions for functioning of the women’s organisation in the communist system of the Polish People’s Republic (in the first period of the organisation’s activity from 1945 to 1975)

Abstract

The League of Women (Liga Kobiet), until 1949 operating under the name of the Socio-Civic League of Women (Społeczno-Obywatelska Liga Kobiet), was a mass women’s organisation functioning in the Polish People’s Republic. Throughout the whole period, one of the priorities set by the organisation was to build up its mass character and, thus, to influence different social, professional and environmental groups of Polish women, fitting into the general agenda of implementing the communist regime in Polish society. Most League of Women’s members were also members to the Polish United Workers’ Party. The League of Women tried to play a role of a “utilitarian” organisation, supporting in a genuine and diverse way the Polish women’s environment. The period between 1945 and 1975 was the first stage of organisation’s activity; in the communist Polish People’s Republic it was a period of “isolation” of the Polish society from the Western world and of a significant influence of the Soviet Union’s policy on the social relations in the country. The League of Women was an example of an East European women’s organisation in the communist era.