Sex Scandals, Sexual Violence, and the Word on the Street: The Kolasówna Lustmord in Cracow's Popular Press, 1905–1906

A study of the 1905 'Lustmord' scandal involving the murder of nine-year-old Marya Kolasówna in Kraków reveals how the popular press shaped public discourse on sexual violence and deviance, while also reflecting and interacting with street-level conversations. The research demonstrates that media coverage, though sensationalistic, contributed to a nascent public sphere by mediating between authorities and citizens, framing violence against women and children as stemming from 'sexual urges or temporary insanity.' Unlike conventional critiques, the study argues that such coverage was part of broader discussions on morality, urban life, and social order, rather than mere false consciousness. The analysis combines close reading of press narratives with contextualization within medical and legal discourses to illustrate the complex dynamics between media, public opinion, and authority in fin-de-siècle Kraków.

Wood, N. D. (2011). Sex Scandals, Sexual Violence, and the Word on the Street: The Kolasówna Lustmord in Cracow’s Popular Press, 1905–1906. Journal of the History of Sexuality, 20(2), 243–269. https://doi.org/10.1353/sex.2011.0017