In recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to gender sociology and queer studies, Professor Joanna Mizielińska, a lecturer at Collegium Civitas and a researcher in gender sociology and queer studies, has been honoured with the prestigious Stefan Nowak Prize by the University of Warsaw in 2023.  The award specifically acknowledges her innovative research on LGBTIQ families in Poland.

Professor Joanna Mizielińska, as the author of a series of works, including two monographs and an article, provides a comprehensive and innovative perspective. Her research, spanning two decades, has significantly contributed to the understanding of LGBTIQ issues and introduced new theoretical and methodological approaches. The awarded research project, “Rodziny z wyboru w Polsce/Families of Choice in Poland,” offers a nuanced view of non-heterosexual family life in Poland. Conducted from 2013 to 2016, this project, supported by the Ideas Plus grant, employed a comprehensive research methodology, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study included a survey of 3038 non-heterosexual individuals in relationships, as well as qualitative techniques such as focus group interviews, biographical interviews, ethnographic research, participant observation, individual interviews with couples and children, and analyses of media discourse on LGBT families in the last decade. This recognition underscores the significant impact of Prof. Mizielińska’s work in expanding our understanding of non-heterosexual family life in Poland.

The ceremony and lecture by Prof. Mizielińska will take place on December 15, 2023, at the University of Warsaw.