Bydgoszcz women leave homes for streets, held under the patronage of queens. Contribution to the research on women’s organizations in the city in the 2nd half of the 19th century, until the outbreak of World War I

Abstract

Situation and history of women in Bydgoszcz in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century has not been reviewed with the use of systematic research. Initiating multidirectional analyses, women should be depicted in the historical-spatial context of the city. The fast growing city created possibilities for finding job (schools, factories, domestic servants), but also created various risks (entirely dependent on family, poverty, social judgment). We can notice in it two interesting phenomena - the will to become independent (which is combined with increased self-awareness and attempts to cope without man in daily life) and independence of the country, which was related to the political situation of Poles (Polish women) living in Bydgoszcz (educational, social, journalistic activities). Particularly interesting is activity of societies - on the one hand charitable, and on the other hand patriotic. Sometimes both of these fields were hard to separate.