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Second wave (1830-63)

The second and stronger wave took place between the November and January uprisings. The leading advocate of feminism was the newspaper Scientific Revie\v. It published articles by Narcyza Żmichowska, who was an active speaker, acting on belialf of women’s causes, writer, teacher, founder of Enthusiast Association (1830-1850), which was considered as the first feminist group. Narcyza dared to smoke cigars, cut her hair into short and ride on horseback like a man. She advocated breaking the "salon" education of girls, which contained mainly French and piano, but instead introduce women's education based on social and natural Sciences. She thought that knowledge is needed to women so that they can make informed decisions in life and for being able to choose other forms of social activity rather than usual functions of wife or mother. The aim was to teach women independence, in the words of Żmichowska: “Leam, if you can, you should know that if you are alone and you need help, support is not waiting. “ ¹ Narcyza postulated two training programs: one practical for girls who want to devote to their family and upbringing of children and the second - scientific for talented girls. Both programs were characterized by pressure to form a national and patriotic attitudes. The basis of education were 5 subjects: aritlimetic, geography, natural Sciences, history and language learning. Pupils were encouraged to think for themselves, synthesize and draw conclusions. Żmichowska encourage women to make each other "sister relationship" because they share a common fate.

The first Polish female philosopher, Eleonora Zimięcka, wrote Suggestions for Womeris Education, which postulated that the most important aim in womeiTs education was forming their human naturę and only afterwards - feminity.

When the insurrection occurred Tadeusz Kościuszko, who was Uprising Warden, wrote to the women's manifesto, which calls on them: “fellow Citizen ". Women were given citizenship when the Polish State ceased to exist. They have been granted citizenship of a non-existent State. It was meaningful for them. Wbmen finally occurred on tlie public stage.

When emancipated western women were fighting for freedom and equal rights, Polish women were acting for raison d'etat. They did not care about independence from małe domination, but about equality of sacrifice and participation in the reconstruction of the State without distinction of sex. After the fali of the January Uprising equal rights for women were not so much a positivist postulate as a necessity of life. As a result of repression and economic changes came a large group of women without małe protection, forced to find a new role in society. Real difficult situation of women, imposed on a pre-existing legał disadvantage. The legał status of women also was descibed by the Napoleonie Codę. Wbmen did not have civil riglits, were in fact owned by their husbands. Without the consent of her luisband a woman could not dispose of his property, work, or even to correspond freely.

Thirdwave (1870-1900)

Poland experienced the third and strongest wave after 1870, under preponderant Western influence. A big impact on the activity of emancipated women had economic changes, especially in areas annexed by Russia. Morę often women worked in the equal conditions like men - even in tliis context many of them were single or widowed after tlie uprisings, lonely as a result of repression. They worked mainly in tlie professions considered to be "feminine" - teaching or trade. Consequendy, they had to be properly educated and trained to the profession. In a natural way, tliere appeared a thought that working as well as representatives of the opposite sex was not connected with rights deriving from tliis.

After 1870 feminist sentiment was also given to men. Sometimes their involvement in the affairs of women exceeded the initiation of the opposite sex. The main advocates of women were: Adam Wiślicki and Zenon Biliński, a lecturer at the University of Lvov, who led a series of lectures "About the work of women from the economic position." They stressed the importance of economic

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N. Żmichowska. Poganka. Oprać. T. Żeleński (Boy). Wrocław 1950.