A Walk Through History: Feminist Perspectives from WWII-Era Poland
the details.
Great historians and politicians always say, “we have to learn from our mistakes or history will repeat itself.” Too often do we hear people calling history boring. Too often we see history teachers lecturing on the same material over and over. What about the parts of history that didn’t make it in the k-12 curriculum? How can we spark interest in lesser known countries, about lesser known histories?
I embarked on a task to bring Polish women’s history to life. I believe history should be a story; storytelling is a universal language, created to entertain. Polish women have been forgotten and neglected through history: they were the ones working in the mines while men fought at war, they moved across the world to try to succeed in America, and they suffered through a double burden comparable to that of US women.
Why do we care? Poland is an often-neglected country, but it contains some of the richest 20th century history globally. It is a country of travesty and devastation, mourning and loss. It was ripped apart over the course of WW2, and has spent years rebuilding itself only to be torn apart again.
I focus on the Soviet-era Poland, specifically pertaining to women’s experience. I began with an origin piece: an academic essay about Polish women's double burden. I then decided to transform this message. I initially embarked on a short story that did not exactly come to fruition in the way I had hoped. I took the characters from this story and created an anthology of poems.
We hear from three women before and after WW2 era Soviet control, and we learn history through poetry by telling stories.
Meet the Characters...
Tough. Gritty. Does not settle. Always speaks her mind. Stella shows us the powerful, formidable woman that thrives in the mines. She is a boss in her career and a loyal friend.
Quiet. Subdued. Kind. No one ever really knows what she's thinking. Regina is the mysterious, hardworking woman that shows grace in spite of hardship.
Strong. Anxious. Warm. Unsettled. Wanda represents a no-nonsense figure that is stoic in her choices and speech. Her past and career have molded her straight-to-the-point attitude, but do not mistake this for a lack of empathy. She cares deeply for her friends and those around her and expresses these sentiments through advice in plain speech.
the project.
Double-click on an image below to transport to the poetic archives of each character.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |
A Plea for History
I told you that I think History should be brought to life. But, I am not ignorant. Not every Historian has the time to transform manuscripts and books into poems and audience-tailored writing. We would lose much of the important information this way, just as we lost information from my essay when I transformed it into poetry.
I think that the poems may help my essay read more interesting. I think that incorporating creativity into a discipline that is so story-like in nature can help retain interest in students.
So, if you are interested, click below take a look at the inspiration behind my poems.
& for those who are still interested in my process...
As I briefly mentioned, I began my process with a short story. Although this story is not the work I am most proud of, it allowed me to develop my three characters. If you are interested in seeing the whole process of my project, feel free to take a peak at my short story draft by clicking the link below!
​
(& you can see why I did not like this draft, as well)
About the Author
Hello!​
My name is Margaret Michalowski, and I am a History Major at U-M. My father’s side of the family emigrated from Poland, and we knew little about their past or experiences in the country. I have always been fascinated with ancestry, and I wanted to explore these roots in my studies. I took a History of Poland class in 2019, which sparked my interest in Eastern European History, and I generated these poems based upon an essay I wrote about women in communist Poland. I think it is important that we all learn history and pay attention to histories that may be overlooked. One of the reasons I chose this major at U-M is that the University pays mind to all histories and boasts specialized professors so that students can learn about any place or time across the world in depth. Such knowledge has taught me that many global experiences are alike and reflect one another. Learning history is how I try to contribute to the world.