Wives, Mothers, Female Warriors. The Image of Polish Women in Nineteenth Century American Historiography

Abstract

The author analyzes selected American historical narratives published in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and describes the image of Polish women presented in them. Women were not usually visible in the historiography of this period, and in fact, they are rarely mentioned, but if they are mentioned, it is mainly as rather inactive wives and/or mothers. In Polish history, however, there were important exceptions, such as Dobrawa and Jadwiga Andegawenska or, to a lesser extent, Bona Sforza and Marysieńka Sobieska. Other queens are mentioned rather rarely, and only exceptionally do women from outside the ruling families appear, which is something that applies even to aristocratic women. It is these very rare mentions of Polish women that are taken into consideration even if they are usually mentioned in single publications. In addition, detailed research is presented to isolate certain statements about Polish women in general and their character and virtues. These statements are relatively few in number, but they are occasionally included especially when they describe customs. These elements serve as the basis for analyzing the overall image of Polish women in American historiography with a particular emphasis on the process of its historical modification. Moreover, the author also includes elements of comparison between descriptions of Polish women and those of women from other countries and nations with the aim of identifying any possible similarities and/or differences with regard to the Polish national (feminine) character and the national (feminine) set of virtues.