Joanna Rorat

Traditional and New Women's Roles in Rural Areas

Entering Poland to European Union which resulted in accepting The Common Agricultural Policy caused a variety of changes in polish villages and countries. Previous problems of rural areas like fragmentation and low efficiency of farms, bad financial situation of inhabitants, high rate of unemployment, relatively low educational level and lack of professional practice in non-agricultural occupations caused by lack of workplaces outside of agriculture – were visible and highlighted to a greater extend. Also traditional understanding of women’s role as mothers and wives making ancillary works in agricultural farms has changed. Picture of modern country woman shows two opposing tendencies. On one hand it is fulfilling by women the traditional roles and patterns of behaviour resulting from traditional model, on the other hand new roles connected with awakened educational and working aspirations and non-agricultural activity. Realization of expectations connected with traditional and new duties of country women carries a number of difficulties, but will be possible with institutional support and common acceptance of new roles of women in system of values or rural communities.