Polish sociologist Prof. Magdalena Środa discussed gender dynamics in politics in an interview for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, examining why women vote at lower rates than men. She suggests one factor is a sense that politics is currently a male domain, reinforced by a political culture that many perceive as dominated by conflict and power struggles rather than policy and service. This perception, Środa notes, can discourage women from engaging in public life, as policymaking can appear to be about advancing personal clout rather than addressing everyday concerns.
If the ruling party had been in power in recent years, Środa argues, the visibility and influence of women in politics might have looked different. She calls for careful observation and a willingness to acknowledge women’s roles across government and state institutions. Poland has had prominent female leaders in recent years: Beata Szydło served as prime minister and supported President Andrzej Duda’s campaign; Grażyna Ignaczak-Bandych led the President’s Chancellery; Elżbieta Witek held the role of Speaker of the Sejm; Elżbieta Rafalska introduced the Family 500 plus program; Marlena Maląg continued related social work; Barbara Socha contributed to demographic strategy. Teresa Czerwińska headed the Ministry of Finance, and Magdalena Rzeczkowska was appointed Chief Inspector of Customs and Tax Administration in 2022. Other notable leaders include Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, head of BGK, and Gertruda Uścińska, head of ZUS. The parliamentary benches feature many MPs such as Anna Moskwa, Anna Schmidt, Anna Krupka, Izabela Antos, Anna Łukaszewska-Trzeciakowska, Olga Semeniuk Patkowska, and Jadwiga Emilewicz, representing PiS and United Right.
Środa notes there are many capable women in government; their visibility, however, remains uneven. She observes that some women still face a biased political environment, which can obscure the achievements of others and hamper broader participation. The comparison with family life and democracy appears as a recurring thread in her critique: some people prefer family life to politics, not realizing that democratic governance can support families more effectively. The democratic decision of 2015 brought changes to family life through social programs tied to electoral commitments, yet not everyone fully recognizes how democracy can strengthen households.
Środa expresses concern about the perception that one must choose between family and democracy. She challenges that binary view, arguing that democratic systems create conditions where caring for children and participating in public life are complementary, not opposed. In a broader context, a study from the Generation Institute on the Czech Republic highlights cultural factors that support higher fertility and recognition of parental work there. In the Czech Republic, about 48% of people agree that having and raising children is a duty to society, compared with roughly 22% in Poland, while a majority in Poland holds the opposite view. The Czech example shows that when parents step back from work to raise children, they are not stigmatized; rather, their contributions are valued as part of society. By contrast, Poland’s experience with family benefits and demographic policy has sparked debate and division.
The interview also touches on how feminists and activists are sometimes perceived by Polish mothers, who may feel targeted by public discourse even as many continue to value motherhood. Środa’s comments aim to provoke reflection on how gender norms intersect with political engagement, family life, and social policy. Overall, the discussion emphasizes that female leadership is already present across Poland’s political and civil administration, even if its visibility varies by institution or context, and it calls for a more inclusive understanding of democracy that recognizes the diverse roles women play in shaping the nation’s future.