GATHERERS OF PIG-SWILL AND THINKERS - GENDER AND COMMUNITY AMONGST BRITISH POLES

In this paper I argue that research on British Poles to date has focus ed an a particular and limiting set of definitions of what it means to be Polish. The notion of community has been constructed in a way that is classed and gendered whilst these characteristics are denied as ir relevant. It is assumed that the notion of 'community' is both objecti ve and neutral in terms of its assumed foundation within the work of d ifferent people. However, a concept is neither neutral nor objective s ince it is defined from a position and as such involves a process of i nclusion and exclusion. Looking at community, gender and ethnicity I a rgue that these are all constructs and the interconnections between th em are context specific rather than predeterminable. As constructs the y can be challenged and reinvented.