Citizenship, gender and equality : Polish women immigrants in Western Australia, 1947-1997

[Truncated] This thesis explores experiences of citizenship among Polish women now settled in Western Australia. It draws upon an interviewing project involving thirty Polish migrant women, among other sources. It investigates the ways in which women have been incorporated into both Australian and Polish discourses of citizenship, and the impact of these discourses on migrant women taking and practising Australian citizenship. The context of this study is the revival of both government and academic interest in citizenship, and its potential as a force for equality for migrant women, one of the most marginalised groups in Australia. It emphasises the ambivalent character of citizenship, which both includes and excludes marginalised groups. It also emphasises the patriarchal character of Australian conceptions of citizenship, the difficulty of incorporating characteristically female life patterns and activities within it, and the continuing inequality of women in Australia. It suggests that women may have been assigned sexually specific duties in the Australian polity. In this context, a revival of ideals associated with citizenship may not have much to offer migrant women seeking equality in Australia.