(Nie)widoczna obecność starych kobiet w międzywojennej prasie dla Polek

Abstract

The issue of old women was not a priority topic in the press. It appeared indirectly, most often when describing other social issues. It accompanied the problems of social exclusion due to gender, age, financial condition, education, and professional status. Three separate images of old women emerged on the pages of the interwar press for Polish women. Firstly, there was the image of a matron, that is a dignified married woman, a mother, a tireless social activist who skilfully combined sacrificial work for the benefit of the family and the interests of the community. The figure of a matron was identified with noble features of a woman who demanded a lot from herself, becoming a moral role model for other women. In turn, in the image of the old lady, there was a tendency to show a younger, modernized version of the matron. The lady was ready to introduce innovative elements of family, social and professional life. She knew how to modernize the work of social associations. The third image contained the representation of poor, lonely, hopeless old age. It reflected the vision of an old woman who experienced material poverty, unemployment and homelessness.