Sexuality and Abortion in Interwar Poland : Maternity in Times of Crisis / Elisa-Maria Hiemer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hiemer, Elisa-Maria, Author.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Budapest New York Central European University Press, [2026]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Women's rights activism and the reformation of the legal thought in early twentieth-century Poland were deeply intertwined-sometimes contradictory, yet mutually dependent-shaping debates around the 1932 abortion law and challenging traditional views on female sexuality and motherhood. Set against political transformation, economic hardship, and societal pressure, this book explores the clash between liberal "moral reform" ideas and the ideal of the "traditional" Polish family. Through individual stories from rural Suwalki county, it reveals how precarity, gender roles, and state expectations influenced women's choices, with abortion often serving as necessary healthcare and survival. Rich in legal case studies, it offers scholars and readers a comprehensive overview of interwar sexuality debates and timely reflections on how these issues resonate today. This interdisciplinary work highlights the enduring impact of the male gaze in decisions affecting women's lives.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures

Preface and Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

2. Interwar Poland: Navigating Crises While Taking Action

3. Crisis of the Family? Miłość, Małżeństwo, Macierzyństwo

4. The Suwałki Court Trials on Abortion and Neonaticide

5. Conclusion

Epilogue: Fast Forward One Century

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed June 25 2026)

ISBN:

9789048575220