Humanities and Social Sciences

Kultura i Społeczeństwo

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Kultura i Społeczeństwo | 2025 | vol. 69 | no. 2 Wokół pojęcia wulnerabilności

Authors and Affiliations

Katarzyna Andrejuk
1
ORCID: ORCID
Monika Nowicka
2
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
  2. Uniwersytet Civitas
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Abstract

This article presents the vulnerability theory articulated by Martha Albertson Fineman as part of the discourse around the problems and needs of contemporary citizens and the state’s responsibilities in addressing them. The authors point to the potential of this approach to reveal the complex experiences of people from different groups and social categories, going beyond the “traditional”categories of clients of aid institutions, typically treated as recipients of social support. In Fineman’s view, recognizing citizens’ universal vulnerability and fragility constitutes the basis for a new model of human relations grounded in solidarity, as well as a new perspective for uncovering social inequalities. It also presents a set of challenges for the recalibration needed in the contemporary welfare state, and provides specific guidelines for social institutions and services on how to respond effectively to the needs and aspirations of citizens. Of the article’s three main sections, the first presents the essence of Martha Fineman’s vulnerability theory, the second discusses the challenges for social policy stemming from it, and the third offers inspiration from Fineman’s proposals for social policy at street level. The authors propose an actionable diagnostic model of the potential vulnerabilities in various spheres of life, deriving from Martha Fineman’s reasoning. This is a valuable tool for preventing social problems and, simultaneously, enabling the accurate construction of “tailor-made”service packages to compensate for deficits experienced and to respond to manifestations of universal vulnerability.
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Authors and Affiliations

Arkadiusz Karwacki
1
ORCID: ORCID
Andrea Volterrani
2
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland
  2. Tor Vergata University in Rome, Italy
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Abstract

The paper examines the situation of migrant domestic workers in Poland, focusing on their needs, the risks they face, and the opportunities to enhance their resilience and empowerment. The research is based on the analytical model developed by Helma Lutz and Ewa Palenga-Möllenbeck, which addresses the macro (labor market, migration policies), meso (social networks), and micro (individual workers’ experiences) levels. Particular attention is given to Ukrainian migrants who arrived both before and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Data was collected primarily through in-depth interviews with migrant domestic workers, employers, and representatives of public authorities, NGOs, and academia. The findings highlight the prevalence of informal employment, a lack of legal protection, and challenges in enforcing labor laws in private households. The article offers recommendations for improving the working conditions of migrant domestic workers and proposes policy changes to support their integration into the labor market.
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Authors and Affiliations

Jan Bazyli Klakla
1
ORCID: ORCID
Agnieszka Kulesa
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Center for Social and Economic Research, Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract

Vulnerability among migrant parents is analyzed as a critical experience that impacts educational equity and social integration. In the context of the education system in Poland, migrant parents may face challenges such as language barriers, cultural differences, and limited resources that hinder their ability to engage with schools and advocate for their children’s needs. Despite some research acknowledging these challenges, there remains a gap in fully understanding the complex factors that contribute to the vulnerability of migrant parents and how this intersects with education. The article aims to address that gap by focusing on migrant parents’ vulnerability and unpacking the concept of vulnerability and its various forms. It raises questions about the consequences of vulnerable situations that migrant parents experience due to sudden events and systemic challenges. Through ethnographic interviews and observation among parents with migration experience and school personnel, the study provides new insights into the systemic barriers faced by migrant parents, and explores new meanings of vulnerability. The study recognizes the existence of multifaceted vulnerability among migrant parents within the educational context, presents key systemic challenges, and provides examples of different parental experiences, including both their own responses and those of institutional actors.
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Authors and Affiliations

Wiktoria Moritz-Leśniak
1
ORCID: ORCID
Izabella Main
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
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Abstract

This paper calls for greater attention to people recognized as among the most vulnerable. The author argues that disabled migrants should be treated not only as objects and subjects of research, but also as co-researchers in their own right. More research is urgently needed on those who identify as disabled migrants, due to significant gaps in knowledge —particularly in relation to theory, policy, and practice. Accordingly, the article first outlines these gaps in the literature. Second, it examines existing approaches to conducting research with vulnerable persons, and considers the specificity of those defined as “hard to reach”or “easy to ignore.”Third, it identifies inclusivity, accessibility, reflexivity, and anti-essentialism key guiding principles, while an ongoing research project is explored to illustrate key lessons learned. The article concludes with a number of recommendations.
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Authors and Affiliations

Eva A. Duda-Mikulin
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. University of Wrocław, Poland
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Abstract

Between 2020 and 2023, the number of Belarusian citizens migrating to Poland rose significantly. While most Poles view this immigrant group favorably, there are instances in which Belarusians encounter dislike, prejudice or discrimination. This analysis—based on data from opinion polls, research reports and selected media texts—aims to identify the phenomenon of discrimination resulting from shifting attitudes toward Belarusians. Answers were sought to the following questions: What factors underlie aversion and discriminatory attitudes? Which Belarusian citizens in Poland are most vulnerable to such experiences? And in what areas of life? The discussion of the findings draws on the concepts of intersectionality and vulnerability.
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Authors and Affiliations

Tatiana Kanasz
1

  1. The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract

The article transposes the metaphor of “layers of vulnerability”proposed by Florencia Luna and, more broadly, reflects on groups deemed vulnerable to the conditions of the Nazi concentration camps. Scholarly reflections on vulnerability, wartime sexuality, and sexual violence are used to critically examine the condition of one of the most marginalized prisoner categories: the so-called pipels. Examples drawn from the discourse of the dominant group (former Polish political prisoners), including a caustic denunciation of a Polish pipel found in one memoir, serve to illustrate the situational and structural dimensions of vulnerability experienced by young prisoners like him. When appropriately contextualized, these sources demonstrate that the vulnerability of this minority group becomes evident even in mediated representations of their experiences.
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Authors and Affiliations

Aleksandra Kumala
1

  1. Center for Research on Memory Cultures, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
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Abstract

The concept of social marginalization is deeply rooted and widely used in the social sciences, although it has also faced criticism in academic literature. Among other things, it is criticized for being ambiguous and stigmatizing, for serving as a label. In this article, the author explores how people identifying with sociology and socio-cultural anthropology understand and relate to the term “social marginalization.”She grounds her analysis in unstructured interviews with sociologists and anthropologists who have conducted research with people described in the literature as socially marginalized or vulnerable, and on this basis reflects on whether the concept remains useful to the social sciences and humanities.
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Authors and Affiliations

Adrianna Surmiak
1

  1. University of Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract

This article addresses the dispute between the liberal and communitarian positions, analyzing differences in how the category of the “subject”is understood. Communitarians criticize their opponents primarily for their idealistic view of the subject—as a self-sufficient individual, independent of broader social contexts. In contrast, they argue that the subject should be understood as an individual rooted in a particular community, and only on this basis can they determine their own life project and define their individual interests. In this context, the category of the common good and its relation to the individual good becomes crucial for communitarians. The article’s conclusion identifies the divergence of perspectives behind the two positions as the source of the dispute: whereas liberalism focuses on questions of morality, communitarianism is primarily oriented toward the ontology of social reality.
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Authors and Affiliations

Karol Chrobak
1

  1. Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
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Abstract

People have always migrated to places that offer opportunities to satisfy their needs. This movement has intensified over time, resulting in today’s culturally diverse social spaces. Countries that recognize such diversity are liberal democracies, states defined by freedom, individualism, human rights, private property, free market, equality, and self-governance. These are the values that characterize societies belonging to the contemporary civilization known as the West, in contrast to authoritarian countries that do not respect diversity. Multiculturalism, in turn, entails freedom, equality, and respect for different cultures and the people who represent them. Recognition of multiculturalism is thus associated with liberal democracies, which grant freedom and equal rights to all. But is the correspondence between liberal democracy and multiculturalism inviolable? Such is the central question of this article, in which the author examines not only the process by which multiculturalism is recognized within liberal democracies, but also the contradictions between the values underlying liberal democracy and multiculturalism.
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Authors and Affiliations

Anna Śliz
1

  1. Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
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Abstract

The article proposes a theoretical model that enables an analysis of Polish political life from a class-based perspective, taking account of both the communist past and the post-communist present. Class dynamics are crucial in shaping power relations, the representation of social groups, and political behavior. At the same time, the author draws attention to the political nature of class itself and the class -based dimension of politics, which are often overlooked in public and academic debate in Poland. The analysis explores how social structures shaped during the communist era and transformed during the post-1989 transition have contributed to contemporary inequalities and class hierarchies. Drawing on classical theories (Marx, Weber, Bourdieu), the article highlights how understanding contemporary sociopolitical processes requires reflection over the legacy of communism, the dynamics of the transition period, and, above all, the marginalization of class-based discourse and class imaginaries in the Polish public sphere.
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Authors and Affiliations

Mikołaj Cześnik
1

  1. SWPS University, Poland
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Abstract

The article examines contemporary advertisements for residential estates being developed in Warsaw in the second and third decades of the twenty-first century. It strives to identify what an apartment represents, not only as a product on the commercial market, but also as the fulfilment of individual needs and dreams. The author is particularly interested in the value appeals used by the real estate developers. An analysis of the content of advertising brochures for planned and newly built estates revealed comparable proportions of hedonistic and utilitarian values, alongside a steady decline in the importance of values traditionally regarded as Polish. The main message most frequently communicated three themes: hedonism (understood as pleasure not limited to the sensual), modernity, and social prestige. Put simply, it appealed to people’s aspirations and dreams. The prominent role of social prestige proves the importance of the home not only as a safe private space, but also as a marker of social standing.
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Authors and Affiliations

Marta Baranowska
1

  1. National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, Poland
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Abstract

The article addresses the issue of museum storage facilities. Its aim is to highlight some of the consequences of applying the tenets of the “new museology,”which—among other things—advocates enriching exhibitions with works hitherto overlooked. This leads to a shift in the status of objects, both displayed and stored. The holdings kept in art-museum storerooms are presented here as remnants or residues—objects excluded from display, and therefore not forming part of the canon or contributing to narratives about the past. The first part of the article discusses the theoretical framework of the sociology of art. It then sketches the rise of the modern museum, the evolution of its displays, and the necessity of consigning parts of their collections to storage. Next, it describes the issue of museum residues in the context of works being accepted or rejected by museums. Finally, it presents the core propositions of the new museology. The article concludes by emphasizing that museum storage facilities serve as a resource when implementing new museum policies, resulting in objects that were previously rejected shedding their label of residue, which is then applied to items that were formerly celebrated.
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Authors and Affiliations

Barbara Lewicka
1

  1. University of Silesia, Poland
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Abstract

Children’s creative works, free of the cultural conditioning that largely constrains the expression with ease of personal visions, are marked by freedom and spontaneity, and therefore a high degree of authenticity. It is this aspect that was repeatedly raised by 20th-century artists seeking the kind of artistic language that would enable their truest and deepest possible exploration and depiction of their own personality, identity, and worldview. Although deliberately striving to break the restrictive canons of art is incapable of erasing the experiences accumulating over the years, or reversing the artist’s formative process, such efforts have brought about the creation of unique and highly personal works, even if they are frequently very demanding for their audience. The author analyzes the works of Paul Klee, Joan Miró and René Magritte, presenting aspects in which their works were inspired by children’s art—although stemming from entirely different assumptions.
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Authors and Affiliations

Agnieszka Pawłowska
1

  1. Academy of Art in Szczecin, Poland
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Abstract

The article explores the complex relationship between creativity and artificial intelligence (AI) by analyzing two projects in the visual arts that utilize generative tools: Unsupervised by Refik Anadol and Koniec wojny (The End of the War) by Agnieszka Rayss and David Sypniewski. The first section presents a model of the creative process, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between psychological aspects (visual imagery, abstract thinking) and embodied aspects (intuition, tacit knowledge, and physical experience) in human creativity. While AI—and generative neural networks in particular—can produce novel material, it differs from human creativity, which is rooted in the physical world and seeks to break patterns and forge unexpected connections. The article discusses Margaret Boden’s theory of creativity—distinguishing its three varieties of combinational, exploratory, and transformational—and examines the extent to which AI can emulate certain aspects of human creativity. By analyzing two examples of visual artworks created with the assistance of AI, the authors emphasize that making full use of the new technology’s potential requires specialized technical expertise combined with aesthetic sensitivity. Ultimately, the “creativity”of AI boils down to generating averages that can support human ingenuity.
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Authors and Affiliations

Monika Rosińska
1
David Sypniewski
1

  1. SWPS University, Poland

Instructions for authors

1. „Kultura i Społeczeństwo” zamieszcza wyłącznie materiały uprzednio nie publikowane. Zakładamy, że proponując tekst autor deklaruje tym samym, iż jest to jego oryginalna, samodzielna praca. W uzasadnionych przypadkach w przypisie powinny znaleźć się informacje o genezie tekstu (np. że jest to fragment pracy magisterskiej, doktorskiej czy opracowania grantowego) oraz o ewentualnych promotorach czy współpracownikach.
2. Wszystkie materiały są oceniane przez co najmniej dwóch recenzentów z zachowaniem zasady anonimowości (double-blind review). Dlatego prosimy o przekazywanie tekstownie podpisanych i załączanie w oddzielnej kopercie (oznaczonej tytułem artykułu) nazwiska autora, adresu, maila oraz telefonu kontaktowego. Autorów prosimy też o podanie miejsca pracy, stanowiska służbowego i tytułu naukowego oraz adresu do ewentualnej korespondencji z czytelnikami.
3. Teksty — o objętości maksimum 1,5 ark. wyd. — należy składać pod adresem redakcji w dwóch egzemplarzach, wydrukowane z podwójną interlinią(wraz z zapisem elektronicznym).
4. Tablice i wykresy należy załączać na oddzielnych stronach, a w tekście jedynie zaznaczać przeznaczone dla nich miejsca.
5. Bibliografię prosimy sporządzać (w porządku alfabetycznym) według zasad stosowanych w naszym czasopiśmie:
Nowak Stefan, 1979, System wartości społeczeństwa polskiego, „Studia Socjologiczne”, nr 4.
Szacki Jerzy (red.), 1995a, Sto lat socjologii polskiej. Od Supińskiego do Szczepańskiego, PWN, Warszawa.
Szacki Jerzy, 1995b, Wstęp: krótka historia socjologii polskiej, w: Jerzy Szacki (red.), Sto lat socjologii polskiej. Od Supińskiego do Szczepańskiego, PWN, Warszawa.
Weber Max, 2002, Gospodarka i społeczeństwo. Zarys socjologii rozumiejącej, tłum. Dorota Lachowska, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.
Odniesienie w tekście ma wówczas postać (Weber 2002, s. 113).
Prosimy o niepodawanie adresów internetowych, dzięki którym dotarto do tekstów, lecz o umieszczanie w bibliografii opisu ich wersji pierwotnych.
6. W artykułach możliwe są oczywiście także przypisy treściowe (nie bibliograficzne), zamieszczone u dołu strony. W recenzjach preferujemy przypisy bibliograficzne w dołu strony, które mają wówczas postać:
J. Szacki, Historia myśli socjologicznej, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2002, s. 113.
J. Szacki, Historia myśli socjologicznej, cyt. wyd, s. 233. Tamże, s. 255.
7. Tych, którzy kierują swoją pracę do działów „Artykuły i rozprawy” i „Z warsztatów badawczych”, prosimy o dostarczenie jej streszczenia w języku polskim — ewentualnie także angielskim — (o objętości nie przekraczającej1000 znaków, liczonych ze spacjami) oraz o wyznaczenie słów kluczowych w obu językach.

Reviewers

RECENZENCI W 2021 ROKU

Monika Adamczyk, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski
Janusz Barański, Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Piotr Binder, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Tadeusz Borutka, Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II
Anita Brzozowska, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Marta Bucholc, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Michał Buchowski, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Mariusz Czubaj, Uniwersytet SWPS
Wioleta Danilewicz, Uniersytet w Białymstoku
Marcin Dębnicki, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Rafał Drozdowski, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Danuta Duch-Krzystoszek, Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej
Tomasz Ferenc, Uniwersytet Łódzki
Mirosław Filiciak, Uniwersytet SWPS
Piotr Filipkowski, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Monika Frąckowiak-Sochańska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Jacek Gądecki, Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza w Krakowie
Małgorzata Głowacka-Grajper, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Marek Gorzko, Akademia Pomorska w Słupsku
Małgorzata Jacyno, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Krzysztof Jasiecki, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Katarzyna Kajdanek, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Katarzyna Kalinowska, Instytut Badań Edukacyjnych
Jerzy Kałążny, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Antoni Z. Kamiński, Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN
Tomasz Kaźmierczak, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Kaja Kaźmierska, Uniwersytet Łódzki
Przemysław Kisiel, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie
Jerzy Kochanowski, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Joanna Konieczna-Sałamatin, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Maciej Kowalewski, Uniwersytet Szczeciński
Wiesława Kozek, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Natalia Krzyżanowska, Örebro University
Paweł Kubicki, Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Wiktoria Kudela-Świątek, Uniwersytet Pedagogoczny im. KEN w Krakowie
Waldemar Kuligowski, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Anna Kwaśniewska, Uniwersytet Gdański
Marta Leśniakowska, Instytut Sztuki PAN
Wojciech Łukowski, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Mirosława Marody, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Piotr Mitzner, Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego
Andrzej Moskwin, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Dorota Mroczkowska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Adam Mrozowicki, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Janusz Mucha, emeritus
Natalia Niedźwiecka-Iwańczak, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Lech M. Nijakowski, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Przemysław Nosal, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Cezary Obracht-Prondzyński, Uniwersytet Gdański
Krzysztof Pietrowicz, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Jakub Potulski, Uniwersytet Gdański
Ryszard Radzik, Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej
Dorota Rancew-Sikora, Uniwersytet Gdański
Jerzy Rohoziński, Ośrodek Badań nad Totalitaryzmami Instytutu Pileckiego
Maja Sawicka, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Krystyna Skarżyńska, Uniwersytet SWPS
Marta Songin-Mokrzan, Uniwersytet Łódzki
Karina Stasiuk-Krajewska, Uniwersytet SWPS
Beata Szluz, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski
Magdalena Ślusarczyk, Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Wojciech Świątkiewicz, Uniwersytet Śląski
Piotr Toczyski, Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej
Arkadiusz Tuziak, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski
Andrzej Waśkiewicz, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Ewelina Wejbert-Wąsiewicz, Uniwersytet Łódzki
Piotr Witek, Uniwersytet im. Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej
Cezary Włodarczyk, Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Anna Wylegała, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Katarzyna M. Wyrzykowska, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Tomasz Zarycki, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Anna Ziembińska-Witek, Uniwersytet im. Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej
Magdalena Zowczak, Uniwersytet Warszawski

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