Authors

Discussion

This conference paper proposal explores the multifaceted strategies employed by leftist feminist activists in Poland and Lithuania as they endeavor to promote gender equality in the face of gender politicization, exacerbated by the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. These activists perceive a deep connection between capitalist exploitation and sexist oppression (Littler, 2023), leading them into direct confrontation with both the church and the government.

After the fall of Communist regimes in 1989 in Poland and 1990 in Lithuania, capitalism became the cornerstone of the newly independent nations (Kennedy, 2001; Szelenyi, 2017; Kornai, 2009). Women's rights, previously subordinated to worker's rights, were now championed by feminist and women's rights non-governmental organizations (Einhorn and Severn, 2004, Grabowska 2012). However, these NGOs often emphasized the expansion of reproductive and economic rights while overlooking issues of class, which had become associated with Communism and pro-Russian sentiments (Ghodsee, 2004). Activists striving to address both gender and class issues found themselves caught in the crossfire between their liberal or mainstream feminist colleagues and socially conservative politicians.

Socially conservative politicians leveraged the moral authority and historical significance of the Roman Catholic Church, boasting more than 75% adherence in both countries, to cast gender rights and gender equality discourse as contrary to national identity and "traditional values." ( Kriszan and Roggeband, 2021; Reinhardt et al, 2023)  This gender politicization adversely affected all feminists, with leftist feminists being especially targeted as anti-state agents.

Poland, in particular, has been under scrutiny for its democratic backsliding and increasingly restrictive reproductive rights legislation over the last eight years of PiS governance. Meanwhile, Lithuania has encountered its own challenges, such as failing to ratify the Istanbul Convention, stalling same-sex partnership legislation, and backlash against sex education (Mos, 2023)

This project, based on ethnographic interviews with leftist feminist activists and politicians, aims to chart the intricate landscape these women navigate and the innovative strategies they employ to advance their goals. While mass protests receive significant media and public attention, activists from both countries highlight the importance of "stealth tactics." These tactics encompass working behind the scenes with sympathetic politicians, educating the general public through visual art and performances, forging strategic alliances, and creating inclusive spaces that operate outside the confines of capitalist logic. Despite the differing contexts in Lithuania and Poland, examining them together sheds light on feminist embodiment of an alternative social and political vision as a resistance strategy (Gukelberger and Meyer, 2022).