The Household in the System of Values of Peasant Families

Abstract

The Polish rural population's system of values is the author's object of interest. In the present article he discusses the relations between the farm as a production establishment and the family household in rural areas. He compares the position of land as a workshop in the traditional peasant culture and in a modern family with the position of the household. The author concludes that in modern times a decrease in the standing of land is observed. This is caused by the fact that it has ceased to be the only way peasant families can earn their living. On the other hand the significance of the rural household as the plane of fulfilling the family's fundamental functions increases. At the same time consumer values are raised on the scale of values. However, a strong functional connection is still maintained between the family and its production establishment and household. This latter one has to a large degree become autonomous. Its appraisal is much higher than it used to be in the past.