Żaneta Chłostowska - The Seamstress, Architecture of Clouds

oil on canvas, 100 cm x 70 cm

Żaneta Chłostowska - The Seamstress: "The dominance of the other (male—note by Piąty Wymiar) half of society, cultivated for centuries (especially in certain social circles) and sometimes even backed by force, has entrenched the view that women have certain 'biologically determined’ intellectual shortcomings in women. This view still persists among an alarmingly large portion of our population and sometimes manifests itself in very subtle ways. Despite formal legal equality, the argument “... and it will give the institution a more feminine character” is often invoked when filling important and highly skilled positions. Such a statement is not pejorative in and of itself, but in this context, does it not often imply that her femininity will mask her potential incompetence? No achievements in the exact sciences—such as physics, chemistry, or mathematics—nor Nobel Prizes or Fields Medals, can change this, for they are… anomalies or freaks of nature. It’s a sad observation, but evolution continues, and it’s just a shame that this often happens alongside a sense of the erosion of masculinity. It’s a great pity."