The article takes a diachronic look at feminatives in the Polish language from the sixteenth century to the present day. The authors recall the history of female forms in the language. Referring to pre-war journalism, discussions in the journal Poradnik Językowy [The Linguistic Guide] and the propaganda lexis of communist Poland, they prove that female forms are not foreign to the Polish language. They create a comprehensive list of reasons why feminatives have disappeared from Polish, taking account of both intra-linguistic and extra-linguistic factors. The authors refer to examples from contemporary media and public discourse to show gender asymmetry in the language and the mechanisms of its operation. The article ends with an attempt to fi nd a solution to the current situation based on the practices of the Polish feminist community and English-speaking communities.
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