How are Poles generally viewed outside Poland by other nations?

Is the stereotype changing for the better?

Stereotypes change with circumstances. Poland’s neighbours, Germany, Austria and Russia have for centuries propagated a poor image of the lazy, drunken thief. This is not strictly objective because the Germans and Austrians sought some moral justification for their participation in the division of Poland. The Russians did not criticise Poles for laziness or drunkenness, one wonders why not, but contented themselves with the justification of superior force. It appears that even though Poles were once compelled to work in Germany and Austria they are not welcome now. This probably has more to do with German fear of competition than any real grievance. Of course there is the infamous stealing of German cars, but it not admitted that many Germans sold their cars cheaply in Poland and later claimed that they had been robbed.

In Britain, Poles settled in 1946, because Churchill said that it was the least that he could do and honour demanded it. The brides of many airmen, soldiers and sailors also demanded it. Those were not easy times, but the Poles were accepted and gradually respected. The Gierek and the Solidarity immigrants proved to be a mixture and the Polish image in London was somewhat tarnished. Now after between one and two million Poles have left Poland, and most are in Britain and Ireland, they are very well regarded in Britain and Ireland. Young Poles have earned a reputation for being hard-working and there are very few complaints.

The Polish population of the United States is, of course a far older immigrant community. Not having any personal experience of the U.S., all I can say is that it is not Poles, who spring to mind when crime is discussed or is the subject of TV serials. Perhaps a flippant remark, but based on the fact that poor, mostly uneducated immigrants worked hard, raised families and built homes and communities. Perhaps American Poles have taken longer to rise through the social strata in than some other immigrant groups, however that is not cause for criticism.

If Poles have problems with stereotyping, it is rather their stereotype of themselves that does them an injustice. Of course there are problems in Poland, but though they cannot be disowned, these problems have been inherited from Communism. It is because of Communism that Poles have a poor self-image. The nation is changing and can work and live in a modern, market-economy society, a fifth of the dentists in Britain are Poles. The problem is with the Polish governing “nomenklatura”, once Poland is cleansed of political and administrative incompetence and criminality, and then indeed Poles will be second to none.

Unfortunately the Presidents of Poland appear to be declining in quality. Walęsa made history, it is said that Kwasniewski made money and the current president has done nothing. Yet if one looks at the political leadership in Britain, France and Italy one may conclude that ability and integrity in political life are in short supply everywhere today.

Achilles Węgorz

Thanks for posting this. Some interesting stuff.

Although, I don't think views in the US and UK can be extended to "other nations" so easily.


Is this hard-working reputation really viewed so positively by most in the UK?

I see many workers (especially physical labourers) here in denmark feel quite threatened by the polish work ethic.


Perhaps in some cases, but there's much more to it than that most of the time.


It did take quite a toll. Communism is also why many non-poles have a negative image of poland. This takes different forms in different places. Here in denmark, I think it has to do with some deep-seated (and well deserved, IMO) guilt for not interfering in atrocities taking place in a neighbour country. In the US, it's the "we had to save your asses because you couldn't take care of yourselves" negativity and a remarkable absence of guilt for, or even recollection of, how long they just sat on their asses and watched the horror show (again, IMO). How do attitudes compare in the UK?


No doubt about that!

I think opinions are changing amongst a lot of British and not really for the good, there has been article after article over the last few weeks about British builders losing their jobs because there is a cheaper job pool to tap in to which happens to be Polish builders, these British men have mortgages and families here in their own country and are finding it increasing harder to provide for their families....I'm not going to start bashing anyone but this is happening and I would imagine it will cause a lot of friction between people on building sites.

Even allowing for the more inflammatory treatment of this issue by certain sections of the British media, I think A is right in that there are some tensions. If you believe the papers it is a huge issue. I think the reality is less of a problem but a problem nevertheless. It's all an example of supply and demand at work. There was a huge shortage of skilled labour in building and similar trades before the influx of tradesmen from the new EU countries. It was almost impossible to find a plumber in the South of England 3 or 4 years ago. Now we have redressed that balance and yes, some of the new work force, do work for less. We have the benefits of a capitalist economy so we have to accept the downsides too. In the longer term we will see competition for jobs extending beyond the low paid, manual sector into the full economy. The challenge for the UK, which we are failing badly in my opinion, is to educate our children to be able to compete in a global economy. An influx of hard working and well educated people should be the wake up call we need.

IMO the hard-work ethic is viewed positively by those benefitting from it - the consumer - and negatively by those who feel threatened by it... those whose jobs are potentially at risk...



one of the first posts i made on this forum was about polish builders... and how frankly i have been let down countless time by british builders who do a shoddy job, drink endless cups of tea and then overcharge me... if a polish builder comes along and does a better job, in half the time and for a fraction of the cost then really... it's a no brainer... not a lot of sympathy for the local rip-off merchants...

Sounds precisely like how it is in denmark. Only with the danes it's more likely cigarette and beer breaks. Competition from polish workers will do them some good!

Very true. You have to admit tho' that Twin Brothers have guts say their opinions despite protests of the P.C crowd. I respect that.

Jaro broke his hand yesterday.

My parents are from that late generation.

The Pope has really elevated how other Americans view Poles.One joke in the early 70's always ended in " yeah, and the Pope is Polish." But, there always was discrimination. The pecking order was: English speaking Anglos, Irish-because they spoke English, Germans, Slavs, Italians, Asians, Mexicans and Blacks. The first three groups held most of the power in the US. Now, the Poles and other Slavs have a higher status. It is unfortuante that the Blacks have always been treated poorly. Now, people abandon Black areas because of the crime and the hopelessness that it shows.

As an American of Dutch-Irish decent I can roughly estimate the view of the Polish here in the U.S.
We have none.
Actual Polish (recently from Poland)people are a rare occurrance in MOST of the U.S.
However ,Polish immigrants were (the smallest)part of the 'Big Four' (along with German,Irish,and Italian)of the early 20th century European
relocation to America.Chicago,after Warsaw,has the second most-most Polish speaking population in the world.
Polish-Americans are now viewed,more or less,as 'regular white folk'.In fact it's hard to watch a sporting event without seeing
someone named "ski"
My Irish cop great uncle noted that the Polish neighborhood patrols were given to soon to be retirees,or as a reward.These
nieghborhoods had less crime,less work,less stress.This may be partly due to the Poles coming reletively late in the game,
and the Irish ,Itallians,and Jews had already established a tight grip on the gambling,prostition,loansharking etc..Either way,this was somewhat good
for the Polish reputation.
Among well informed conservatives,Poland's prestige has recently risen.I say 'well informed' because it is little known in the
states the role the Polish played in Iraq.I.E. after the fall of Saddm ,Iraq was divided into a British,American,and Polish Zone( the poles
commanding a multinational force in the south central-region)
Also the rescue of CIA agents,by the Polish special forces 'GROM' was helpful for the Polish reputation.
But to be quite honest,80% of Americans have never even heard of of any of this.And to the more 'liberal' element in this
country,any active involvement in Iraq will be seen as a definate negative.

We have to many Poles here in the UK, some 800,000 in 3 yrs, Its time our government took action or we will become Poland II

I'm coming soon.

It's great huh? Just think....to be able to live anywhere you want....ahhhh dreamy :) Just what the world shoud be about. Why be stingy with your country right? Good for you UK! You truely are kind people :)

We will be coming until It sinks.

UK is a **** hole I admit that, but your neighbours Gernany didnt think much of you, nor did France, these are quality countries!

I would be more worried If they did.

No - we have too many lazy, whinging people, a lot of whom are Brits.



Feel free to leave at any time then

I don`t care.

see my point, you poles just have bad attitudes, which proves my point! How long do you think you can enjoy living in the uk?? what working as a labourer or doing low level jobs is quality of life?

thelondonpaper.com/cs/Satellite/london/lcsearch/article/1157147318716? packedargs=suffix%3DArticleController

Lol

should be UK
Sentences start with capital letters.
should be didn't
should be too
should be years and it's
poles [/quote] Should be Poles


Why do you make so many basic errors when using your own language?

Greeting from Polish labourer in London.

johan123,

''yrs'' is OK. It's the short form.

See if you can find the error in my last post Johnny boy.

Polish labourer

So why didn't you use them. And where are your fullstops.

It's not the point. The guy's uneducated and needs to see it.

OK. I'll let you get on with it.

johan, i think you and the rest of the poles are ueducated labouring bafoons, so its not surprising when 2 million of you lot turn up in a small island like the uk that it annoys everyone.

your not good for our country and the economy period! if you want work why not go to parts of the saraha or the amazon? im sure there is plent of work for you to do there.

btw, your personal hygene is terrible, what we have to face on the tube each morning is terrible. well its not surprising that there are 10 poles in a sleeping bag to 1 bedroom, imagine 30 or 40 poles to a house in the monring, im sure some cant take a shower!! lol

Are you sure you're from the UK? You've just used some American phraseology. People in the UK do not use the word period for end of, they say full stop.

Trash, come on...