The choice of repertoires in women's movement against tightening the abortion law in Krakow since 2016: inner dynamics and tensions

Abstract

The aim of this research is to explore the different factors that influence the choice of repertoires in women's movement against tightening the abortion law in Krakow, Poland since 2016, when mass demonstration in October mobilized hundreds of thousands of participants in more than 140 locations. Since then, the government and conservative groups tried to introduce several times and pro-choice women's activists had to innovate their approach, attract new people, and keep public's attention in the issue. Activists had to balance between building solidarity, convincing authorities of legitimacy of the cause while being limited by the resources and facing a weakening if interest of the public, which live in a polarized society where various demonstrations happen almost every week. In-depth interviews with activists, analysis of Facebook groups and media reports helped understand what challenges activists face and what tensions and divisions arose inside the movement. The data showed that there is a certain fatigue among participants and it is getting harder to mobilize supporters. Furthermore, there is a growing negative sentiment towards Catholic Church and its influence on policy makers. Finally, social movement created safe spaces for women to share and talk about their experience which conditioned greater awareness of sexism.