„Zadra” (eng. The Thorn”)-

a new quaterly becames important to Polish women

In her book „The will to change: Men, Masculinity, and Love” Bell Hooks writes: „Patriarchal culture continues to control the hearts of men precisely because it socializes males to believe that without their role as patriarchs they will have no reason for being. Dominator culture teaches all of us that the core of our identity is defined by the will to dominate and control others.”(Hooks 115). She points out „This is why the term patriarchal masculinity is so important, for it identifies male difference as being always and only about the superior rights of males to dominate, be their subordinate females or any group deemed weaker, by any means necessary”(Hooks 114). She explains that „feminist movement was from the outset presented to most males via mass media as antimale”. (Hooks 108) The patriarchal tradition led to ignore, obstruct and most of all fight with the feminist ideas. 

 

The struggle affected and still affects all modern societes. As Bell Hooks puts it: „I often use the phrase "imperialist white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy" to describe the interlocking political systems that are the foundation of our nation's politics”. (Hooks 17). Boys and girls are taught their roles from the beginning of their lives. Hooks recalls „As their daughter I was taught that it was my role to serve, to be weak, to be free from the burden of thinking, to caretake and nurture others. My brother was taught that it was his role to be served; to provide; to be strong; to think, strategize, and plan; and to refuse to caretake or nurture others” (Hooks 18).

The stereotypical views of the patriarchal world makes other ideas so difficult to emerge. In Polish society patriarchal tradition is tightly connected with the Roman Catholic religion that almost 80% citizens identify with. I think that the Christian tradition makes the situation very similar to the remembrances of Bell Hooks' childhood. Ideas of feminism reached Eastern Europe much later than western part of the continent. Since XIX century the waves of the new ideas were weak and did not became popular among the nation.

It is not much better nowadays. The feminist movement is hardly present in mass media. One of the interesting exceptions I came along is the quaterly „Zadra” (eng. „The Thorn”) published since 1999. The print run amounts about 2500 copies and grows. It is available- and it is a big success- in almost all bigger newsstands. In one of the interwievs the chief editor Beata Kozak said: „And why does it came into being? Because it is important to create the feminist press, apart from women's magazines... They concentrate on traditional image of woman. ...We want to tell women something new, something different. And nothing forceful. We criticise the stiffness of roles, schemes in which Polish women move. For some it is like the title- sharp and truculent, for some it is too moderate. And men read us, too” (2).

Let us see what problems are broached in „The Thorn”. Here are some example articles from 50-51^th issue (3)  „Loneliness and independence”- do women always have to be escorted by a mother, sister or a man? (Non)maternity – is it always only a happiness?- in such texts as „Silent patriarchalism”, „Grounded woman”, „To (not) be like my mother”, „Father's patrix” or „When I am a woman?- deliberations of Judith Butler” and many many more.

In the stereotype world of Polish mass media I found this magazine as a place where the discussion about feminine issues is finally the most important one. I hope that english version of its web site will be accesible soon so it will appear permanently on the map of the eastern Europe feminist movement.

1. Bell Hooks, The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love, Simon and Schuster, 2003
2. http://www.efka.org.pl/index.php?action=rec&ID=7- Why did „Zadra” came into being?
3. http://pismozadra.pl/najnowszy-numer