Iris Kowalewski

As Poland’s social and political climates continuously promote sexist and homophobic agendas, reverting the country’s human rights to the dark ages, Polish citizens’ injustices are not well known outside of Europe. Attacking fundamental human rights of women and LGBTQ+ communities, these conservative policies and bans are heavily tied to the Catholic Church. Religious interference has been made possible via silent contracts between bishops and politicians, allowing the church to embed itself, meddling in social issues and irrational legislation proposals by dangling their support for right-wing parties as bait. Consequently, Polish citizens face oppression, police brutality and prison time fighting the draconian political culture while creating environments of solidarity for those affected by archaic laws. By exposing and opening a platform for further discourse and protest in the fashion world, there is a hope that the fashion industry will further advocate for these injustices and push back against political restraints across the globe. With my publication “Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna,” I have the opportunity to shed light on a topic close to home as a second-generation immigrant. The war on women’s bodies and LGBTQ+ communities has curated an internal battle between feelings of shame and pride for my heritage. With my privilege of living in a country where women and LGBTQ+ rights are protected, and we can safely express our identities and have access to safe healthcare, I wish to provide a voice for the voiceless in Poland who are combating these injustices.