Kobieta - sportowiec w propagandzie Polski Ludowej w okresie stalinizmu w świetle „Trybuny Ludu"

Abstract

Sport in People's Poland had the political goals. Therefore, athletes had to participate in activity of state propaganda. They also had to be on political parades. Officially, they had to support government. In return, the communists gave them good conditions to play sport. They also could go abroad. The communists especially needed good athletes. However, in the period of Stalinism there were not so many sports successes of woman. The most known and one of the best athletes was Helena Rakoczy. She was the World Championships gold medalist in gymnastics. Therefore, communists used her image in political propaganda. Of course, they did not ask her for permission. The same situation was wit h Jadwiga Jędrzejowska. She was a very good tennis player. There were also other, less known women athletes. The communists used their images in propaganda, too. Why did communists use the images of women athletes in political propaganda? Example of woman athlete and their success it was encouragement for other women for start ing of professional job. Communists needed workers for realization of six-year plan in period of Stalinism. These women usually had to send kids to kindergartens. In this situation, a government could very early improve ideological education for children. During Stalinism women athletes were "prisoners" of their own success. The government used their images for political goals even without theirs permission. In opinion of authority, they had to be heroines of stadium and the example of political attitude.