Overcoming Barriers: Feminist and LGBTQ+ Strategic Engagements in Poland’s Conservative Political Landscape

This paper critically examines whether feminist and LGBTQ+ movements in Poland have managed to overcome the deeply entrenched conservative barriers in the country’s political and social landscape. The analysis centers on the transition from spontaneous street-level activism to more sustained and strategic political and social engagement, reflecting on the effectiveness of these new tactics in countering anti-gender rhetoric and policies.

Poland’s conservative political sphere, bolstered by the Catholic Church and far-right organizations, has presented significant obstacles to feminist and LGBTQ+ movements. These movements, initially reactive and protest-driven, have had to evolve to challenge not just immediate threats but also the broader normalization of anti-gender ideologies within public discourse. In recent years, activists have adopted a more strategic approach, focusing on coalition-building, legal challenges, and targeted political actions. However, these efforts have met mixed success, as the structural barriers to gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights remain pervasive.

Drawing on in-depth interviews with key activists, this research explores how movements have sought to translate their street-based momentum into political influence. The paper analyzes both the opportunities and limitations of these strategies. While the political shift from a far-right government to a more democratic one in October 2023 in Poland offered hope, this study questions whether feminist and LGBTQ+ initiatives have truly made headway in policy reform, or if their impact has been curtailed by the persistent influence of conservative and nationalist ideologies.

Ultimately, this paper highlights the complexity of achieving substantive change in a socio-political environment where anti-gender discourses have been entrenched. It provides a critical reflection on the successes and setbacks of feminist and LGBTQ+ strategies in Poland, exploring the long-term sustainability of these movements in the face of ongoing resistance.