“Very often children want to dress up”
The discussion on Woronicza 17 included a moment where the host Miłosz Kłeczek and MP Maciej Gdula of the left spoke about a civil initiative titled Let’s protect children, let’s support parents. The debate also touched on concerns about the sexualization of minors and questions about the purchase of a stake in the publisher of Rzeczpospolita by a Dutch company funded by a German bank. The exchange between Gdula and Kłeczek reflected sharp partisan tones and a testing of each other’s viewpoints.
In the exchange, Kłeczek confronted PSL MP Krzysztof Paszyk, who struggled to clarify whether he would support civil law proposals. Gdula stepped in with a provocative remark about a common concern: the notion that children sometimes want to dress differently than traditional gender expectations. He suggested that this happens frequently, noting that parents and educators sometimes forbid such expressions. The dialogue moved to examples of children choosing costumes or roles, with references to characters like Spiderman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as illustrations of how dress and play intersect with identity. PiS MP Radosław Fogiel contributed to the conversation by urging a calm approach and characterizing the moment as a right-leaning shift rather than something alarming. Gdula pressed the point with irony, while Kłeczek, speaking from a parental perspective, emphasized the importance of talking with children and guiding their understanding rather than enforcing blanket bans.
When asked what he would do if his own son wanted to paint his nails, Kłeczek answered that dialogue and clear explanations about beliefs and preferences were the parent’s responsibility. The responder, Gdula, pushed back by questioning whether such parental involvement was excessive or whether education should be left to other circles. The debate touched on the broader question of how children are socialized and what messages they may absorb in school and other environments. The discussion also raised concerns about how far adults should go to regulate children’s self-expression and how to balance parental authority with social norms.
As the conversation progressed, the topic shifted toward the idea of primary socialization and the potential for certain trends to be perceived as deviations. The presenter challenged the panel by asking whether these topics should be elevated into political or civic action, drawing attention to the weariness of some participants with sensational framing of gender questions. The exchange showed a mix of humor and serious concern about how gender norms are discussed in public forums and in schools, and about how media coverage can shape public perception of these issues.
“It’s not like there are Germans lurking everywhere.”
The second segment focused on the business side of media ownership in Poland, specifically the purchase of 40 percent of Gremi Media by the Dutch firm Pluralis, with funding from a German bank. The hosts framed the deal as a test case for foreign capital in the Polish media landscape, and they debated whether government calls for national ownership should influence how such investments are viewed. The discussion acknowledged that German capital had a presence in the media sector, while also noting that a Dutch company with Belgian shareholders would not automatically imply German influence. The speakers argued that media readership and editorial independence are governed by the quality of journalistic work, not the nationality of the financiers, while still recognizing that ownership structures can shape the conditions under which journalism operates.
One participant argued that the real issue is how a reader encounters a newspaper and whether the content aligns with their preferences. The dialogue touched on the role of bankers and lenders in the media industry and how financial pressures might affect editorial decisions, though there was insistence that editorial autonomy should prevail. The discussion also highlighted differing views on the degree to which foreign influence should be viewed with suspicion, and it warned against oversimplifying a complex financial web by labeling it a grand conspiracy. The participants suggested that a reader’s trust is earned by the quality of reporting rather than by perceptions about who provides the capital.
The conversation acknowledged that concerns about external pressure in the media have historical echoes, pointing to specific cases and conversations in the past. The participants stressed that defending editorial independence involves focusing on the actual performance, credibility, and transparency of the newsroom rather than relying on broad generalizations about foreign owners. The dialogue ended with a cautious note about how public discourse can shape opinions and the importance of evaluating media content on its merits, not on rumors or sensational narratives.
In summary, the program examined two intertwined themes: how society discusses gender expression and parental guidance, and how foreign capital intersects with media ownership in Poland. The participants debated the balance between protecting children and respecting personal and parental choices, while also scrutinizing the influence of international actors in the country’s press. The overall takeaway emphasized accountability, editorial integrity, and the critical role of informed, thoughtful commentary in public media discourse.