ACADEMIC CAREERS IN POLAND: DOES GENDER MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

The article analyses some of the problems of academic women in Poland. It begins with an historical survey of the status of educated and professional women in Poland beginning with the end of the eighteenth century and then focusses on the social and political determinants and the differences and similarities of the recruitment patterns and the course of the careers of women and men in the academic world. Women, the author recognizes, are underrepresented in academic and scientific careers in comparison with men; however, the problem stems as much from the perceived role of women in society at large as from blatant sexual discrimination. The situation is slowly improving, but women need to form organizations to further their collective interests.