Books by Agata Stasinska
Nomos, 2018
Społeczności osób nieheteroseksualnych w Polsce są dyskryminowane, zarówno prawnie, jak i społecz... more Społeczności osób nieheteroseksualnych w Polsce są dyskryminowane, zarówno prawnie, jak i społecznie, co wpływa w znaczącym stopniu na ich życie codzienne i rodzinne, manifestuje się również w ich życiu intymnym. Jak jednak osoby nieheteroseksualne ˝żyjące we współczesnej Polsce rozumieją i praktykują życie intymne? Jaki związek ma z nim ich seksualność? Jak na życie intymne osób nieheteroseksualnych wpływają współczesne przemiany tego obszaru? Czy kontekst społeczno-kulturowy współczesnej Polski ma znaczenie dla tego, jak budują swoje relacje intymne? Na te i inne pytania odpowiada autorka książki, odwołując się do teorii i badań z nurtu socjologii: intymności, seksualności i codzienności oraz posiłkując się perspektywą badawczą zainspirowaną studiami gender i queer.
We are pleased to announce the publication of the report Families of Choice in Poland. Family Lif... more We are pleased to announce the publication of the report Families of Choice in Poland. Family Life of Non-heterosexual Persons prepared by Prof. Joanna Mizielińska, Marta Abramowicz, and Agata Stasińska.
In the quantitative part of the research team approached 3038 people from all over Poland of various ages (between 18 and 61 years of age), living in relationships of various duration (from 6 months to 42 years). 9% of the respondents live in families with children (from one to four children). It is the first time so much data concerning children raised by non-heterosexual people was collected.
Papers by Agata Stasinska
Studia Socjologiczne, 2014
recenzja/ review of: Eva Illouz. Why Love Hurts. A Sociological Explanation. Cambridge: Polity Pr... more recenzja/ review of: Eva Illouz. Why Love Hurts. A Sociological Explanation. Cambridge: Polity Press 2012, 293 s.
lambda nordica, 2020
The concept of families of choice was introduced almost three decades ago by Kath Weston (1997). ... more The concept of families of choice was introduced almost three decades ago by Kath Weston (1997). She used it to describe the situation of the LGBTQ community in the era of the HIV/AIDS crisis, when the relations with families of origin had been heavily tested and proved to fail, whereas relations with friends were the primary source of care and support for the sick and dying, as well as their partners. Since then, contemporary non-heterosexual families are understood as their queer descendants and often the term “families of choice” is used synonymously. However, whereas much had been written about the ideologies of queer kinship, the sphere of the daily, ordinary, and often imperceptible practices of kinning, when nothing exceptional is happening (like a disease or family crisis) has still not been sufficiently examined. Therefore, it could be argued that the debate on queer kinship is rather conceptual and abstract with its focus on normativity/antinormativity (Wiegman and Wilson ...
Sexualities, 2017
Studies of non-heterosexual kinship in modern societies are well established in the Anglophone co... more Studies of non-heterosexual kinship in modern societies are well established in the Anglophone countries, dating back to such 'classical' texts as Esther Newton's Mother Camp (Newton, 1972) and especially Kath Weston's Families We Choose (Weston, 1997[1991]). This original body of work has now become 'canonical' and a mandatory point of reference for subsequent researchers-and deservedly so. Canonization, however, does present the inevitable perils of hegemonization and dominant theories can sit somewhat uncomfortably amidst diverse (i.e. non-Western) socio-cultural and historical contexts. Scholars from geographically diverse localities typically invoke 'the canon' as pre-existing points of reference and inspiration for their investigations and analysis. Consequently, whilst studying diverse localities, we frequently adapt language and concepts that derive from elsewhere. There has never been any attempt to impose a one-size-fits-all frame onto queer lives and lifestyles; such a move would indeed be most ill-fitting. Queer experience remains as dynamic now as it has ever been. At the same time, it is hard to escape the intellectual scaffolding that accompanies prevailing theoretical vocabulary. This thorny issue of cultural hegemony is of course not unique to queer kinship studies. The power and impact of discourse has been a key feature in sexuality research more widely, starting with Michel Foucault (1990[1976]) and extending to recent engagements with homonormativity (Duggan, 2002) and homonationalism (Puar, 2007), to name just two. Anthropological studies have Sexualities 0(0) 1-8 ! The Author(s) 2017 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
Sociological Research Online
In many Western countries, LGBTQ couples experience the ‘after marriage era’, allowing them to ch... more In many Western countries, LGBTQ couples experience the ‘after marriage era’, allowing them to cherish their intimate bonds openly and legally. Meanwhile, Poland remains the biggest country in the European Union, refusing legal recognition. Some LGBTQ couples from Poland decide to get married or enter into a civil partnership abroad, which is not recognised by the Polish state. Many invent their own couple rituals to celebrate their relationships. The article critically engages with Western scholarship on queer weddings, commitment ceremonies, and couple rituals, mainly analysed through the polarised notions of subversion versus normativity. In contrast, the present article proposes to go beyond this dichotomy and apply a more tender and nuanced research approach. It maps a broader repertoire of naming, timing, and displaying tactics entangled in the local socio-political and cultural context where these couple rituals are developed. The article argues that these tactics are develop...
Sociological Resarch Online, 2022
In many Western countries, LGBTQ couples experience the ‘after marriage era’, allowing them to ch... more In many Western countries, LGBTQ couples experience the ‘after marriage era’, allowing them to cherish their intimate bonds openly and legally. Meanwhile, Poland remains the biggest country in the European Union, refusing legal recognition. Some LGBTQ couples from Poland decide to get married or enter into a civil partnership abroad, which is not recognised by the Polish state. Many invent their own couple rituals to celebrate their relationships. The article critically engages with Western scholarship on queer weddings, commitment ceremonies, and couple rituals, mainly analysed through the polarised notions of subversion versus normativity. In contrast, the present article proposes to go beyond this dichotomy and apply a more tender and nuanced research approach. It maps a broader repertoire of naming, timing, and displaying tactics entangled in the local socio-political and cultural context where these couple rituals are developed. The article argues that these tactics are developed not only regardless of lack of legal recognition, but also that the socio-political context deeply influences how these rituals are shaped. It also demonstrates how notions of authenticity and agency transgress the dichotomy between subversion versus normativity often applied in analysing such rituals. The article concludes by sharing research implications and future paths for research on queer couple rituals. The article draws on 53 individual in-depth narrative interviews and a monthly ethnographic study conducted with 21 non-heterosexual families done within the Families of Choice in Poland research project.
Gender, Place and Culture, 2022
The article demonstrates how the problematic socio-political
situation of nonheterosexual communi... more The article demonstrates how the problematic socio-political
situation of nonheterosexual communities in Poland and
Polish traditionalism significantly impacts how nonhetero-
sexual people develop their sexual stories and perceive their
sexual practices. It aims to shift the discussion on sex life,
primarily conducted in the Anglo-American context that
often focuses on the frequency of sexual contact and het-
eronormative understanding of sexual practices, into a more
critical one, attentive to the socio-political context. The arti-
cle maps queer narratives on sex life and reconstructs the
role of heteronormative and homophobic patterns, preju-
dices, and stereotypes. It demonstrates how public norms
and discourses are mirrored, negotiated, and challenged in
queer sexual stories. Finally, it shows how these negotiations
deeply influence the positionality of nonheterosexual people
in Poland and their sexual choices and practices. The article
concludes by sharing future paths for research on queer
sexual life inspired by geographies of gender and sexualities.
The presented analysis draws on 53 individual in-depth nar-
rative interviews and a monthly ethnographic study con-
ducted with 21 nonheterosexual families done within the
Families of Choice in Poland research project.
*please PM me if you would like a pdf of the paper sent to you
Gender, Place & Culture, 2020
This article discusses the ways in which non-heterosexual people living in Poland understand and ... more This article discusses the ways in which non-heterosexual people living in Poland understand and navigate displaying affection in public. I trace how LGBTQ people negotiate and develop their strategies of (in)visibility. I investigate the landscape of queer visibility outside ‘the West’ and in particular discuss concepts developed in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). I argue that the geographies of sexualities should pay more attention to public displays of affection (PDA) from the perspective of agentic queer subjects. I propose an approach based on tenderness to capture and understand the ambiguity and complexity of strategies of (in)visibility. The paper draws on research on the intimate life of non-heterosexual people living in Poland that included 53 individual in-depth narrative interviews and a monthly ethnographic study conducted with 21 non-heterosexual families.
*please PM me if you would like the PDF of the paper
Sociological Research Online, 2020
In the article, we discuss the usage of multi-methods qualitative approach in family research dra... more In the article, we discuss the usage of multi-methods qualitative approach in family research drawing on the monthly team ethnographic study of 21 non-heterosexual families in Poland. This study was employed as a part of a larger multi and mixed-method project Families of Choice in Poland, where we implemented a frame story approach ( FSA). By using the ethnographic study as an example, we aim to demonstrate how our approach enabled us to capture hidden elements of family practises and to understand challenges which non-heterosexual families face in contemporary Poland. Moreover, we show how our methodological decisions were in line with the local socio-political context where specific research methods may be more effective due to their less disclosing character. Finally, we provide a fieldwork illustration of our arguments which demonstrates how our methodological and analytical choices resulted in producing nuanced perspectives on issues of the hierarchy of motherhood and kin rela...
Sexualities, 2017
Research into queer intimacies and families has been largely conducted from and about the Western... more Research into queer intimacies and families has been largely conducted from and about the Western (specifically Anglo-American) context. It very often (re)presents a hegemonic, mono-normative paradigm and vision of intimacy and family life, and profoundly influences the scope and methods of such research in other localities. This article uses findings from a large-scale mixed methods study called Families of Choice in Poland which was designed to examine the diversity of intimate and familial practices of non-heterosexual lives. It highlights how geo-temporal conditions shape LGBTQ relational lives and, as such, unsettles the dominant Western knowledge on queer kinship.
Journal of Homosexuality, 2016
Przegląd Socjologii Jakościowej, 2020
Praktyka jogi jest coraz bardziej popularną formą aktywności fizycznej zarówno w Polsce, jak i na... more Praktyka jogi jest coraz bardziej popularną formą aktywności fizycznej zarówno w Polsce, jak i na świecie. Wpływa na poprawę stanu zdrowia, ale i stanowi element rozwoju osobistego i często także praktykę duchową. Badania na temat praktyki jogi zdominowane są jednak przez nauki o zdrowiu, zaś w naukach społecznych głównie przez psychologiczne badania oparte o techniki ilościowe, które często mają trudność w uchwyceniu zniuansowanej relacji ciało-umysł, obecnej w doświadczeniu praktyki jogi. Rzadko podejmuje się także próby zbadania związku praktyki jogi z budowaniem relacji społecznych przed jednostkę. Celem artykułu jest przybliżenie polskim czytelnikom i czytelniczkom pól badawczych, gdzie obecnie zgłębia się praktykę jogi jako zjawiska społecznego. Przyglądam się jodze jako fenomenowi historyczno-społecznemu. Przede wszystkim jednak przyglądam się badaniom na temat wpływu praktyki jogi na jednostkę, jak i podejmujących się krytycznego oglądu społeczności jogicznych, by zakończyć na studiach podejmujących temat związku praktyki jogi z relacjami interpersonalnymi. Podsumowując swój przegląd, przedstawiam także rekomendacje dla przyszłych badań na temat praktyki jogi. Artykuł może stanowić inspirację dla przyszłych badaczy i badaczek zainteresowanych praktyką jogi jako zjawiskiem społecznym, na przykład socjologów i socjolożek reprezentujących zróżnicowane dziedziny socjologii, takie jak socjologia rodziny, intymności i pary, ale także sportu, medycyny czy religii.
Studia Socjologiczne, 2018
* Tekst ten powstał w ramach projektu badawczego "Praktyki posługiwania się pieniędzmi w bliskich... more * Tekst ten powstał w ramach projektu badawczego "Praktyki posługiwania się pieniędzmi w bliskich relacjach w młodych gospodarstwach domowych" fi nansowanego ze środków Narodowego Centrum Nauki przyznanych w ramach konkursu "Opus 5" na podstawie decyzji DEC 2013/09/B/HS6/03426. Artykuł ten jest częściowo efektem prac wykonywanych w ramach projektu "Rodziny z wyboru w Polsce" fi nansowanego ze środków budżetowych na naukę w latach 2013-2015 (grant "Ideas Plus" IdP2012000462) realizowanego w IP PAN pod kierunkiem dr hab. Joanny Mizielińskiej.
Tekst ten prezentuje wyniki analizy studium przypadków sądowych i medialnych najistotniejszych dl... more Tekst ten prezentuje wyniki analizy studium przypadków sądowych i medialnych najistotniejszych dla dyskursu publicznego na temat rodzin nieheteroseksualnych ostatniej dekady. Fakt ich zaistnienia, jak również sposób ich przedstawienia i opisywania w dyskursie stanowi przyczynek do analizy przemian w obrazie rodziny w dyskursie publicznym. Świadczy również o przemianach w obrębie strategii emancypacyjnych społeczności nieheteroseksualnych w Polsce. W pierwszej części tekstu autorki prezentują dominujący dyskurs konserwatywny mediów głównego nurtu (re)prezentujący i reprodukujący tradycyjną wizję rodziny. W drugiej zaś odtworzone zostają sposoby, za pomocą których bohaterowie i bohaterki omawianych tu przypadków reagują na próby ich marginalizowania oraz brak rozpoznania charakteru ich relacji w sferze publicznej. Opisane zostają podejmowane przez nich subwersywne emancypacyjne strategie działania, mające na celu legitymizację ich rodzin. Rozważania zaprezentowane w niniejszym tekście usytuowane są w kontekście socjologii seksualności i płci, codzienności, przemian dyskursu, ruchów społecznych. Wpisują się w analizę przemian rodziny oraz praktyk „wystawiania” własnej rodziny na pokaz, pokazywania własnych relacji jako rodzinnych, szukanie ich uznania w oczach innych (displaying families). Główne pojęcia: rodziny z wyboru; społeczności nieheteroseksualne/LGBT; strategie emancypacyjne; socjologia płci i seksualności; socjologia rodziny; socjologia codzienności; analiza dyskursu. Summary This article analyses the most signifi cant judicial and media cases about LGBT families in the last decade. Their existence in the mainstream discourse shows the changes in the image of the family in the public sphere, as well as changes within the emancipatory strategies of the LGBT communities in Poland. Firstly, the dominant, conservative and mainstream media discourse is examined; it (re)presents and re)produces the traditional vision of the family at the heart of a society. Then, authors move to analyse responses to the marginalization and lack of recognition in the public sphere faced by the LGBT families. They propose to read them as wilful and subversive, the emancipatory strategies of legitimization of ‘queer kinship’ in the public sphere. The article is rooted within sociology of gender and sexuality, sociology of family and everyday life, social movements, and transformation discourse. It calls for the attentive analysis of processes of “displaying families” and the social changes of family forms. Key words: families of choice; LGBT/non-heterosexual communities; strategies of emancipation; sociology of gender and sexuality; sociology of family; sociology of everyday life; discourse analysis.
Przegląd Socjologii Jakościowej, 2020
Praktyka jogi jest coraz bardziej popularną formą aktywności fizycznej zarówno w Polsce, jak i na... more Praktyka jogi jest coraz bardziej popularną formą aktywności fizycznej zarówno w Polsce, jak i na świecie. Wpływa na poprawę stanu zdrowia, ale i stanowi element rozwoju osobistego i często także praktykę duchową. Badania na temat praktyki jogi zdominowane są jednak przez nauki o zdrowiu, zaś w naukach społecznych głównie przez psychologiczne badania oparte o techniki ilościowe, które często mają trudność w uchwyceniu zniuansowanej relacji ciało–umysł, obecnej w doświadczeniu praktyki jogi. Rzadko podejmuje się także próby zbadania związku praktyki jogi z budowaniem relacji społecznych przed jednostkę. Celem artykułu jest przybliżenie polskim czytelnikom i czytelniczkom pól badawczych, gdzie obecnie zgłębia się praktykę jogi jako zjawiska społecznego. Przyglądam się jodze jako fenomenowi historyczno-społecznemu. Przede wszystkim jednak przyglądam się badaniom na temat wpływu praktyki jogi na jednostkę, jak i podejmujących się krytycznego oglądu społeczności jogicznych, by zakończyć ...
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Books by Agata Stasinska
In the quantitative part of the research team approached 3038 people from all over Poland of various ages (between 18 and 61 years of age), living in relationships of various duration (from 6 months to 42 years). 9% of the respondents live in families with children (from one to four children). It is the first time so much data concerning children raised by non-heterosexual people was collected.
Papers by Agata Stasinska
situation of nonheterosexual communities in Poland and
Polish traditionalism significantly impacts how nonhetero-
sexual people develop their sexual stories and perceive their
sexual practices. It aims to shift the discussion on sex life,
primarily conducted in the Anglo-American context that
often focuses on the frequency of sexual contact and het-
eronormative understanding of sexual practices, into a more
critical one, attentive to the socio-political context. The arti-
cle maps queer narratives on sex life and reconstructs the
role of heteronormative and homophobic patterns, preju-
dices, and stereotypes. It demonstrates how public norms
and discourses are mirrored, negotiated, and challenged in
queer sexual stories. Finally, it shows how these negotiations
deeply influence the positionality of nonheterosexual people
in Poland and their sexual choices and practices. The article
concludes by sharing future paths for research on queer
sexual life inspired by geographies of gender and sexualities.
The presented analysis draws on 53 individual in-depth nar-
rative interviews and a monthly ethnographic study con-
ducted with 21 nonheterosexual families done within the
Families of Choice in Poland research project.
*please PM me if you would like a pdf of the paper sent to you
*please PM me if you would like the PDF of the paper
In the quantitative part of the research team approached 3038 people from all over Poland of various ages (between 18 and 61 years of age), living in relationships of various duration (from 6 months to 42 years). 9% of the respondents live in families with children (from one to four children). It is the first time so much data concerning children raised by non-heterosexual people was collected.
situation of nonheterosexual communities in Poland and
Polish traditionalism significantly impacts how nonhetero-
sexual people develop their sexual stories and perceive their
sexual practices. It aims to shift the discussion on sex life,
primarily conducted in the Anglo-American context that
often focuses on the frequency of sexual contact and het-
eronormative understanding of sexual practices, into a more
critical one, attentive to the socio-political context. The arti-
cle maps queer narratives on sex life and reconstructs the
role of heteronormative and homophobic patterns, preju-
dices, and stereotypes. It demonstrates how public norms
and discourses are mirrored, negotiated, and challenged in
queer sexual stories. Finally, it shows how these negotiations
deeply influence the positionality of nonheterosexual people
in Poland and their sexual choices and practices. The article
concludes by sharing future paths for research on queer
sexual life inspired by geographies of gender and sexualities.
The presented analysis draws on 53 individual in-depth nar-
rative interviews and a monthly ethnographic study con-
ducted with 21 nonheterosexual families done within the
Families of Choice in Poland research project.
*please PM me if you would like a pdf of the paper sent to you
*please PM me if you would like the PDF of the paper
Obok osób z naukowym zapleczem występowały więc te, które rozpoczynają dopiero przygodę z queerem pisząc prace doktorskie, magisterskie, licencjackie oraz aktywiści sięgający po zasady wypracowane przez teorię queer podczas tworzenia przestrzeni do działań, twórczych poszukiwań czy rozwiązywania problemów. Wydaje się, że dyskusje te, choć niemożliwe do uchwycenia w formie książkowej, stały się inspiracją do dalszego rozwoju i integracji środowiska osób zajmujących się teorią queer.
Książka ta nie jest monolitem, składają się na nią teksty z wielu dziedzin nauki, pisane z różnych perspektyw badawczych i ułożone tak, by od rozważań teoretycznych, przez propozycje metodologiczne, dotrzeć do narracji prywatnych opartych na przykładach wskazujących na poszczególne praktyki w obszarze queer.
There had been a visible shift in a recent LGBT politics in Poland from coming out politics to the politics underlining the subjectivity of non-heterosexual relationship (Kulpa, Mizielińska, Stasińska 2012). The transition occurred in many different levels (activism, grassroot social campaigns, voices of LGBT people) and as such it calls into question politics mostly modeling Western (U.K.-USA) ideas of LGBTQ emancipation. There is a need to analyze this turn but also ask about love and kinship as political concepts of LGBT/queer activism.
In my speech I would like to engage in the discussion on love and kinship politics which has been recently developed in the Western political theory and queer theory (i.e. Hardt&Negri 2009, Boelstorff 2007) and attentively confront it with Polish (& possibly Central and Eastern European) reality.
Is the argument of Western scholars who claim that love can only be powerful political concept when separated from family (Hardt 2007, Berlant&Warner 1998) adequate in Polish (& possibly CEE) context where the meaning of kinship/family and love is firmly linked with specific geo-temporal specificity of the region (Kulpa & Mizielińska 2011)? What could be queer in referring to love/kinship in post-communist time and space? While addressing these question I will firstly, discuss the works of Western and CEE scholars to trace the possible common understanding of love and kinship in sexual politics of CEE and secondly, I will analyze the strategies of LGBT/Queer activism that refer to the notions of love and kinship in Poland, CEE and other “non-Western” localities.
Academic research about queer intimacies and non-monogamies has been largely conducted and written from and about the Western (specifically Anglo-American) context. It very often (re)presents a very essential, hetero- and mono-normative paradigm and vision of intimacy. The attitude influences profoundly the scope and methods of research concerning non-heterosexual intimate relationships.
We intend to confront this image by drawing on the results of the project Families of Choice in Poland - the first multi-method research project on non-heterosexual families aiming to shed light on the diversity of intimate and familial configurations of non-heterosexual Poles.
We intend to present the results concerning intimacy in non-heterosexual relationships studied during several stages of our research (quantitative research conducted on 3038 people, 53 biographical interviews, 21 ethnographic studies). Particularly we would like to concentrate on the emic perspective of our informants to show insight into the dynamics of our respondents’ intimate life. How do they define and display affection and care? How do they evaluate their sexual life and speak about (non)monogamy? Are such (very heteronormative) concepts as “fusion”, “bed death” adequate in the description and analysis of their daily relational practices?
It is our aim to leave behind the paradigm of big sociological theories, i.e. Giddens’ “pure relationship” and lean more towards the understanding of “intimacy as friendship” (Weeks, Heaphy, and Donovan 2001) or “radical ordinariness” (Heaphy, Smart, Einarsdottir 2013). We also would like to underline the emergence of studies done from a local perspective that might subvert some of Western queer dichotomy between monogamous and non-monogamous intimacies.
The researchers accompanied 20 families living together with the family and working under the supervision of the research team for a month. They kept a specially designed online ethnographic journal describing the life of the family on a daily basis. They also carried out several interviews with the members of the families (i.e. biographical interviews, photo/object elicitated interviews, family maps interviews).
It was the first ethnographic research with such a complex methodology used in research on LGBT people in Poland and, probably, in Europe. It gave a unique insight into the interactions and relations prevalent among families of choice.
In our presentation we would like to present the methodology of the research and discuss the process considering methodological, ethical, and psychological dilemmas that it has raised. How to deal with the very sensitive data involving intimate aspects of LGBT life in a rather homophobic society and academia? What are the pros and cons of such a study in comparison to other methods? What are the most pressing ethical issues of privacy and the validity of the data? We will address those questions drawing on particular examples from the field.
1. their cherished values, sense of happiness, and satisfaction with the relationship;
2. their relations with families of origin;
3. their definition of family;
4. their wishes and strategies to formalise their relationship;
5. their everyday lives;
6. their intimate lives;
7. conflicts and violence in the relationship;
8. parenthood
We would like to underline the emergence of studies done from a local perspective and of in-depth/exploratory (rather than comparative paradigm) and we claim that they may be a more fruitful way of getting the knowledge about the functioning of such families in a specific social and cultural context.
The urgent need to situate non-heterosexual families (with or without children) in a specific cultural and social context beyond the West is reflected in the pioneering multi-method project Families of Choice in Poland (2013-2015; PI: professor Joanna Mizielinska) which sheds light on the actual life, needs, and practices of kinship of “families of choice” in Poland.
In our presentation we will draw on diverse findings from the research. The following data sources will be investigated more closely:
1. Quantitative study concerning the family life of 3085 LGBT people: here we present some findings regarding their reproductive plans and their actual accomplishments.
2. Ethnographic studies on 20 families of choice in Poland who were closely observed by ethnographers (who often lived with them) for the period of one month: here we will compare 2 chosen cases - one lesbian couple who travelled abroad to complete ARTs and one who did it in Poland.
3. Biographical interviews with lesbian mothers and lesbians who plan to become mothers in the near future
We will discuss the dynamic between possibilities, choices, and their accomplishments seeking for a deeper understanding of the discussed phenomena. We would like to answer the following questions: How is the ideology of motherhood (re)negotiated by lesbian families in Poland? How is it incorporated into their identity construction? What determines actual choices to become mothers? What is the role of particular local context in non-heterosexual reproductive plans? What does it mean mothering queerly and queering motherhood (Park 2013) in Poland?
The urgent need to situate non-heterosexual families (with or without children) in a specific cultural and social context beyond the West is reflected in the pioneering multi-method project Families of Choice in Poland (2013-2015; PI: professor Joanna Mizielinska) which sheds light on the actual life, needs, and practices of kinship of “families of choice” in Poland.
In our presentation we will draw on diverse findings from the research. The following data sources will be investigated more closely:
1. Quantitative study concerning the family life of 3085 LGBT people: here we present some findings regarding their reproductive plans which involves question of an access to ARTs (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) and their actual accomplishments.
2. Ethnographic studies on 20 families of choice in Poland who were closely observed by ethnographers (who often lived with them) for the period of one month: here we will compare 2 chosen cases - one lesbian couple who travelled abroad to complete ARTs and one who did it in Poland.
We will discuss the dynamic between possibilities, choices, and their accomplishments seeking for a deeper understanding of the discussed phenomena. We would like to answer the following questions: What determines actual choices? What is the role of particular local context in non-heterosexual reproductive plans? What factors matter and are taken into account (religious belief, class, legal access)? How are they (re)negotiated in practice? And finally, what will non-heterosexual reproduction in Poland look like when the more severe legal regulation on ARTs is introduced?
Our presentation is based on the data collected within the nation-wide quantitative part of the research. The total sample consisted of LGBT individuals currently in the same-sex relationships (n=3085) and single LGBT persons who had same-sex relationships in the past (2378). In the questionnaire they were asked about many aspects of their family and relational practices including matters of violence and abuse. Questions about violence concern its four different types - economic, emotional, physical, and sexual. They were adapted from the questionnaire prepared by Catherine Donovan (2014) used in her studies on violence in same-sex relationships. We collected data concerning violence in present (n = 2838) and previous relationships of the respondents (n=1520), assessed by respondents both as victims of violence, and as perpetrators.
In our presentation we would like to show these results and answer questions concerning the most frequent forms of violence and abusive behaviours in same-sex relationships. We attempted to indicate the differences in violence between current (reported by couples) and past relationships (reported by singles); between females and males; between victim and perpetrator perspectives, and the most significant predicators of non-violent and various forms of abusive behaviour.
We would also like to discuss these findings in relation to other results from the research (quantitative part including in-depth interviews, ethnographic research, discourse analysis) and in the broader context of socio-political situation of families of choice in Poland.
In our presentation we would like to engage in the discussion on love and family/kinship politics which has been recently developed in the Western political theory and queer theory (Berlant&Warner 1998, Butler 2002, Boelstorff 2007, Hardt&Negri 2009, Halberstam 2012) and attentively confront it with Polish reality. Is the argument of Western scholars who claim that love can only be a powerful political concept when separated from family (Berlant&Warner 1998, Hardt 2007,) adequate in Polish context where the meaning of kinship/family and love is firmly linked with specific geo-temporal specificity of the region (Kulpa&Mizielińska 2011)? What could be queer in referring to love/family/kinship in post-communist time and space? While addressing these question we will use examples from Polish reality, reflecting upon our own research on ‘families of choice” (Mizielinska 2011-2015) and sexual politics and strategies of LGBT/queer activism (Stasinska 2012-2015).
Is this change also reflected in narrations of non-heterosexual people in Poland? What does ‘love’ mean in their experiences and relationships? What is the role of ‘love’ in their narrations on sexual identity? Is ‘love’ a mere feeling or can it be a political concept reaching beyond the individual life trajectories?
In my presentation I would like: (1) to engage with the recent discussions about same-sex relationships in the ‘West’ and beyond; (2) to recall narratives of ‘love’ from interviews with Polish non-heterosexual couples. I would also like to ponder on the possibility of reading ‘love’ as queer feeling and strategy, and on how ‘love’ corresponds to ‘relationality’ (Butler, Boellstorff) and ‘ordinariness’ (Heaphy), but in non-Western geo-temporal contexts.
In our presentation we would like to engage in the discussion on love and family/kinship politics which has been recently developed in the Western political theory and queer theory (Berlant&Warner 1998, Butler 2002, Boelstorff 2007, Hardt&Negri 2009, Halberstam 2012) and attentively confront it with Polish reality. Is the argument of Western scholars who claim that love can only be a powerful political concept when separated from family (Berlant&Warner 1998, Hardt 2007,) adequate in Polish context where the meaning of kinship/family and love is firmly linked with specific geo-temporal specificity of the region (Kulpa&Mizielińska 2011)? What could be queer in referring to love/family/kinship in post-communist time and space? While addressing these question we will use examples from Polish reality, reflecting upon our own research on ‘families of choice” (Mizielinska 2011-2015) and sexual politics and strategies of LGBT/queer activism (Stasinska 2012-2015).
We are pleased to announce the registration for non-presenting participants for the Queer Kinship And Relationship Conference (8-11 June 2015, Zalesie, Poland). During the conference we will concentrate on different understandings of queer kinships/relationships, and present more insights into the dynamics of non-normative kinship configurations in various geo-temporal contexts.
The following speakers have accepted our invitation to participate in the conference:
Prof. Judith Butler (University of California, USA),
Dr Ulrika Dahl (Södertörn University, Sweden),
Dr Jacqui Gabb (Open University, United Kingdom),
Dr Ruth Preser (ICI-Berlin Institute for Cultural Inquiry, Germany),
Dr Ana Cristina Santos (Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal).
If you wish to know more about the conference theme and the PRELIMINARY PROGRAM of the conference please visit our website: http://queerkinship.systemcoffee.pl/ .
Registration fee for non-presenting participants is 240 EURO (which covers accommodation, meals for the whole conference as well as conference materials). We organize transportation (by coach, optional) from Warsaw to Zalesie and back, transportation fee is additional 25 EURO. Please note, that you can register with an accompanying person (so if you are coming with a friend and you will share a room only one of you needs to proceed with the registration process - fees for accompanying person will be added automatically by the system).
THE ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR THE CONFERENCE IS OPEN FROM 1ST OF MAY, AND WILL BE UNTIL 17TH OF MAY. In order to participate in the conference please make sure, that you register and pay your registration fees which we MUST receive no later than until 17th of May. THE ONLY WAY OF PAYING YOUR REGISTRATION FEES IS BY THE BANK TRANSFER. YOU WILL FIND BANK DETAILS IN THE SYSTEM AFTER YOUR REGISTRATION IS FINISHED.
THE NUMBER OF PLACES AVAILABLE FOR THE CONFERENCE IS VERY LIMITED, so in order to participate in the conference please register as soon as possible. After filling in all the available places the registration will be closed.
The conference is organized by the research team of the project 'Families of Choice in Poland' (2013-2015), Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further enquiries or problems at: familiesofchoice@psych.pan.pl
Best Regards,
Prof. Joanna Mizielińska, Principal Investigator, “Families of Choice in Poland”
Agata Stasińska, Conference Coordinator, Research Officer, “Families of Choice in Poland”
Piotr Jędrzejowski, Conference Secretary
Podstawowym celem panelu jest próba pokazania różnorodności polskich przedsięwzięć badawczych w zakresie studiów nad nienormatywnymi konstelacjami rodzinnymi, często marginalizowanymi w dominującym dyskursie publicznym i naukowym, koncentrującym się na tradycyjnej rodzinie nuklearnej. Zależy nam na integracji środowiska akademickiego zajmującego się takimi studiami. Panel ten, będzie więc okazją zarówno do wymiany myśli i doświadczeń, jak i szerszego spojrzenia na stan badań dotyczących nienormatywnej rodziny, może przyczynić się do rozwoju interdyscyplinarnych projektów badawczych w dziedzinie studiów rodzinnych w Polsce w najbliższych latach.
Przykładowe szczegółowe obszary teoretyczne panelu:
1. Modele nienormatywnych rodzin i związków intymnych (rodziny patchworkowe, monoparentalne, bezdzietne, nieheteronormatywne, niemonogamiczne, transpłciowe)
2. Nowe wymiary pokrewieństwa
3. Funkcjonowanie dzieci w rodzinach nienormatywnych
4. Wpływ płci kulturowej na funkcjonowanie rodzin
5. Niemonogamiczne praktyki rodzinne
6. Nieheteronormatywne praktyki rodzinne
7. Rola kohabitacji w tworzeniu i funkcjonowaniu rodzin nienormatywnych
8. Rola miejsca zamieszkania (wieś czy miasto) w funkcjonowaniu rodzin nienormatywnych
9. Potrzeby i oczekiwania członków nienormatywnych rodzin (społeczne i prawne)
10. Definicje własne rodziny oraz narracje dotyczące praktyk rodzinnych tworzone przez jednostki
11. Dyskurs publiczny/naukowy wobec alternatywnych konstelacji rodzinnych
Proponowana przez nas grupa tematyczna jest owocem organizowanej przez nas interdyscyplinarnej konferencji naukowej „Nienormatywne Praktyki Rodzinne” (25-26 maja 2012, Uniwersytet Warszawski, na konferencji wystąpiły m.in. prof. Krystyna Slany, prof. Anna Kwak, dr hab. Dorota Majka Rostek, dr Ewa Majewska). Sukces tej konferencji udowodnił, że studia nad nienormatywnymi formami rodziny są nie tylko niezwykle żywe i rozwijają się w wielu różnych ośrodkach akademickich, ale także domagają się dalszej reprezentacji w głównym nurcie socjologii, co niewątpliwe byłoby możliwe podczas XV Zjazdu Socjologicznego.
In this panel we want to concentrate of non-Western understandings of queer kinships/families, and present more insights into the dynamics of non-normative family configurations in non-Western geo-temporal contexts. Thus we seek to address the following questions:
1. How ‘queer families’ are socially framed and understood in countries where the social and political significance of traditional ‘family’ is high (e.g. Portugal, Spain, Poland, Italy, etc.)?
2. How non-heterosexual people define their relationships? What concepts are used to think, understood and describe the non-normative kinship practices?
3. Does 'queer family' have the potential to become a (new) reference point of the LGBT activism? Can the invocation of 'queer love' become a political strategy in fight for the social justice?
4. How does a specific geo-temporal context impact the debates on ‘gay marriage’/’civil partnerships’ and other forms of relationship legalization?