In search of feminine power – the power of the female element

In search of feminine power – In putting this thesis, we do not want to confront men and women with each other to emerge better or smarter. We simply look at the realities and talk about them openly. We are looking for answers to the questions – are we witnessing the awakening of female consciousness, has the time come to unleash the feminine element, and is modern society ready for such a change?

We invited prof. Katarzyna Popiolek, Sonia Draga, Joanna Przetakiewicz and Tomasz Ossolinski.

Young women often grow up with the conviction that their color is pink, that they should play with Barbie as a child, later to take care of the family and realize professionally. And to top it all off, be gentle, calm and preferably always smiling. And although many women have already freed themselves from the peculiar direction of duty, it still exists. Yes, like a whole bunch of stereotypes that push us into certain social roles. A simple example – when we think about cooking a meal and developing computer software at home, it is obvious to many of us that the first activity is done by women and the second by men. 

Partnership, which we now tek readily conjugate through all instances, has the idea of agreeing on something together. Not necessarily that Adam will repair cabinets, earn money, and lie in front of the TV after work, while Eve will vacuum, cook, and iron shirts. And while we try to put this agreement into practice, it’s insanely difficult to be consistent when every now and then we stumble over the behavior and situations that have been calcined over generations, in which our prejudices most often win out.

Even in centuries of great intellectual, artistic and scientific stimulation, men led the way. The Renaissance, while generous to human rights, nevertheless narrowed women’s rights, not allowing them, among other things. For further training. During the Enlightenment, women were still not allowed to be scientists, creators or thinkers. Even if they had unexceptional minds, most often their achievements were represented by men. Masculinity orientation is deeply rooted in almost every area of life. It turns out that in films broadcast between 1990 and 2005, only 28% of the roles went to women. Not only do men receive significantly more roles, but they also appear twice as often on screen. There is also no image of women on banknotes, no women on monuments, no civilization achievements of women in the popular consciousness. 

The consequence of this is that the male opinion is taken for granted, a universal truth, while the female opinion usually remains… a female opinion. We can easily see this in offices and companies, where it is the men who take the floor just to summarize something or make a final decision, to put a period. Women, on the other hand, play the role of intermediary or, at best, illustrator of the problem, presentation of the topic to be discussed. It is the man who usually ends a conference, business meeting or briefing. 

It seems like the perfect time to restore the rightful place of feminine energy – the one responsible for empathy, the ability to cooperate and achieve common goals. We can look for it within ourselves, and even we should. Why? Let’s take a look at our brain, which consists of “male” and “female” parts. The left hemisphere is logical, analytical thinking, while the right hemisphere is intuition, creativity and imagination. If we decide that only this masculine approach is valuable, nothing will change, and the feminine element of power will be unnecessarily dormant. Meanwhile, it can be aroused for the benefit of both sexes. It’s not about looking for similarities, or patching up for each other’s deficits by putting puzzles with the words “female power” or “male energy” in the blanks. Rather, it is about countering false statements that often distort the real picture.

It’s good that women’s groups, movements that demonstrate the benefits of women’s inner strength and knowledge are emerging. We are constantly blazing new trails, today already addressing not only ourselves, but talking to those who stand outside. It also seems that the feminine element today is one of the most desirable elements a modern man could possess. 

prof. Katarzyna Popiołek – Dean of the Faculty of Psychology in Katowice SWPS University of Humanities and Social Sciences. Psychologist, Ph. Humanities, associate professor at the SWPS Katowice Branch, Department of Psychology at the University of Finance and Management in Warsaw.

Sonia Draga – publisher, social activist and businesswoman. Founder of Sonia Draga Publishing House and president of the Sonia Draga Publishing Group. She also owns several bookstores and is President of the Polish Book Chamber.

Joanna Przetakiewicz – fashion designer, entrepreneur, founder and director of the fashion brand “La Mania”. Initiator of the “Era of New Women” project. Author of the book “I wasn’t afraid to talk about it.”

Tomasz Ossoliński – one of the most  respected fashion designers in the country, is considered the best Polish men’s tailor. An innovator, he realizes himself on several parallel creative paths. Among other things, he is the author of many costumes for theatrical performances.