Guangzhou exhibition celebrates role of women in Poland’s history

An exhibition featuring the history and culture of Poland’s women has opened to visitors in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province.

The display is one of the highlights of 2018, which marks the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence from the Habsburg Empire, according to organizers.

Jointly organized by the Polish consulate general in Guangzhou, the Polish History Museum, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a Polish institute affiliated with the country’s embassy in Beijing, the exhibition aims to bring the culture and history of Polish women and the progress of female empowerment in the Central European country to Chinese visitors in order to further cross-cultural exchange and foster dialogue.

“Women have played many roles in the history of Poland, and through looking into the history, we hope audiences will have a better understanding of the history of Poland from our female inheritance,” said Joanna Skoczek, the consul general.

She made the remarks during a panel discussion on March 28, with topics including the changing roles of Polish women in history, the challenges women face in the workplace, and what similarities and differences they identify between China and Poland.

“Nowadays, Polish women enjoy equal rights and opportunities in social life, the labor market and politics, but there is still room for improvement. Through dialogue we hope to exchange ideas and stories not only with Polish women who are working successfully in China, but also with Chinese audiences in South China,” she added.

The exhibition, presenting the profiles of more than a dozen women who played a major role in the creation of the Polish nation, will run at Redtory in the city’s Tianhe district until April 20.