Abstract
The subject of this presentation is the attempt to defi ne and to present the origins, socio-cultural content and the evolution of The Polish Mother myth, present in the polish national consciousness. The author tries to show how this myth was born, what functions it fulfi lled and what forms it took in the changing historical and social reality, from the moment of loss of independence, through a period of real socialism, until the present day. The impact of this myth in the lives of real women and their motherhood is taken into consideration. Then, the author comparing the results of the latest polish sociological rese-arches on the family and its transformation, and transformation of value systems together with theories about the specifi cs of life in the period of postmodernity, wonders whether it’s time to deconstruct the myth of The Polish Mother, because it does not fi t the conditions of today’s world, which is characterized, above all, by the apotheosis of individuality, self--realization and freedom, or perhaps in polish society there is still strong traditionalism in thinking about motherhood, and the myth of The Polish Mother is still alive?
Highlights
The Polish Mother has featured in the collective consciousness for many years, functioning as a social myth93
Participation in social beliefs is governed by the laws of cultural transmission, in which on the one hand works the mechanism of imitation, on the other hand the impact of anonymous authority, which is a social group for its member, who identifies with it”94 (Marciszewski 2011)
The myths are determined by the value system of the given community, for example, The Polish Mother is the result of polish traditionalism, conservatism and catholic values
Summary
The Polish Mother has featured in the collective consciousness for many years, functioning as a social myth. After a period of loss of statehood, it was in the time of two World Wars, when women once again faced with the dilemma, that can be described as a classic example of tragic conflict: on the one hand a duty to the Motherland, and - the need of spreading patriotism - upbringing based on the ideals of national heroes prepared to sacrifice their lives for the glory of the motherland, and on the other hand, the obligation towards the family, the mother’s love towards children, care for their development and simultaneously life in the sense of fear arising from the possibility of their loss
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