Clothes as judgement tool
Res Futura European Analytical Collective, which monitors digital discourse, analyzed thousands of Polish-language comments and found that criticism of Nawrocka’s looks and gestures dominated the conversation.
According to the report published Tuesday, users “treat clothes as a proxy for judging whether she is ‘fit’ to be first lady,” the authors wrote.
- 24 % of remarks dredged up her past, often via insinuations about her private life—evidence, the report said, of a “deep-seated reflex to assess women through their history.”
- 17 % compared her unfavorably with former first lady Jolanta Kwaśniewska (1995-2005).
- 14 % debated what sort of woman and mother should embody family values.
Slow “degradation” mechanism
The study describes a “slow degradation” dynamic in which minor issues—repeating an outfit, an awkward hand wave—are magnified to question Nawrocka’s competence. Posts are “laced with irony, aggression and memes,” the researchers said.
Signs of push-back
Even so, 10 % of comments defended her, arguing she is unfairly targeted. Positive threads highlighted her perceived authenticity (8 %), dedication to family (6 %), personal style (5 %) and relatability (4 %).
“When online attacks persist and feel one-sided, neutral observers often shift to empathy,” the report noted, predicting a possible upswing in support “within three to six months” as criticism loses novelty.
Possible public reappraisal
If the pattern holds, Res Futura says Nawrocka could eventually emerge as “a symbol of a woman who fails to meet elite expectations yet mirrors a large slice of society.”
A spokesman for the president-elect’s office declined immediate comment. Nawrocka, who maintains a low public profile, has not responded to the online debate.
Res Futura is a Warsaw-based non-profit that studies media narratives and information security.
(jh)
Source: PAP