ABSTRACT
The changes taking place in the political and economic systems of the former communist states of central and east Europe create a unique opportunity to examine how these transformations influence the situation of women in the law, the role of women in influencing new legislation, as well as the interpretation and practical application of existing laws. In Poland, as in other countries of the region, the legal status of women and men was primarily determined by more than forty years of Communist rule. In that system, the law seemed to play an important role in the process of social inclusion of various groups of citizens, including women. Nonetheless, in many cases, and in many spheres of life, women’s inclusion was more de jure than de facto.
