Description
The project is related to the phenomenon of discrimination against people who use the Silesian language in public space. The project will entail conducting sociological and linguistic ex-ante and ex-post studies. The results of the ex-ante studies will be used in designing promotional activities, while the results of the ex-post study will allow to evaluate the actions taken in the context of the promotion of the Silesian language once the proposed project is concluded. During the project, a group of 300 people (Upper Silesia residents) will be twice subjected to the research. The promotional activities will make use of outdoor advertising, Internet, establishing cooperation with the local and regional media, and, eventually, will lead to building a community coalition fighting discrimination against Silesian language speakers, which will continue working on these issues once the project is concluded.
Summary of project results
"The issue of soft discrimination has been highlighted in debates on Silesian web forums and in social media. Among others, persons speaking Silesian are discriminated against in the job application processes. To date, no effort has been made to research the phenomenon of language-based discrimination in Silesia. Members of the “Pro Loquela Silesiana"" organisation noted that the attitude to language issues in Upper Silesia varies depending on gender. Women cultivate Silesian culture (language included) less frequently than men. The project purpose was to research and reduce the soft discrimination of individuals using Silesian language in public. The project allowed a study of the soft discrimination of persons speaking Silesian, and the delivery of promotional activities (primarily for women) to prevent the phenomenon. As a result, residents of the Silesian region became more aware of the discrimination of persons speaking Silesian in public. Linguistic research and sociological questionnaire-based ex-ante and ex-post studies were carried out for a respondent community of 500 persons. Research confirmed that women are more frequently prone to soft discrimination than men in terms of their negative perception using the Silesian language in public. A campaign to prevent the discrimination of persons speaking Silesian was organised, comprising the development of a blog-containing website, 5 photographic sessions, the distribution of 5,000 posters, the dissemination of 5 promotional videos on YouTube, and the use of outdoor advertising media (50 citylights and 63 billboards in Silesian cities). Three hundred copies of a Silesian-Polish dictionary were printed; in consequence, 11 institutions joined the public coalition to prevent the discrimination of persons speaking Silesian. Project beneficiaries included more than 30,000 users reached by the media campaign."
Summary of bilateral results