Sexuality and Abortion in Interwar Poland

Elisa-Maria Hiemer

Elisa-Maria Hiemer

Sexuality and Abortion in Interwar Poland

Maternity in Times of Crisis

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 Suwa.ki 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.
Forthcoming publication. Pre-orders will open a few weeks before publication date.
Author

Elisa-Maria Hiemer

Elisa-Maria Hiemer is a research associate at Freie Universität Berlin, working on a global family history project. Besides questions of gender, her research includes Polish-German relations, urban narratives, and memory studies at the intersection of culture, literature, and history in Central Europe.
Title
Sexuality and Abortion in Interwar Poland
Subtitle
Maternity in Times of Crisis
Author
Price
€ 129,00 excl. VAT
ISBN
9789048574810
Format
Hardback
Number of pages
268
Language
English
Publication date
Dimensions
15.6 x 23.4 cm
Series
Crisis, Conflict and Security in Central and Eastern Europe - CEU Press
Categories
Eastern Central Europe
Gender and Sexuality Studies
Modern History
Sociology and Social History
Discipline
History, Art History, and Archaeology
Imprint
Table of Contents
Show Table of ContentsHide Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
Preface and Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Interwar Poland: Navigating Crises While Taking Action
3. Crisis of The Family? Mi.o.., Ma..e.stwo, Macierzy.stwo
4. The Suwa.ki Court Trials on Abortion and Neonaticide
5. Conclusion
Epilogue. Fast Forward One Century
Bibliography
Index