The article examines the effectiveness of legislative gender quotas in Poland. Drawing a comparison between Poland and Western Europe (Franceschet, Krook, Piscopo 2012), the article argues that the overall effect of the electoral quota law in Poland is positive. It contrasts insignificant changes in the numerical representation of women in elective bodies with much more significant changes in numbers of women appointed to political positions. While electoral gender quotas have not yet transformed the political landscape, or visibly promoted women's interests in the law and policy-making, the change in approach to women's representation in politics brought about by quotas seems to be incremental, steady and cross-fertilizing areas other than electoral politics.
