Housing space per capita since Middle Ages.

Discussions on other historical eras.
Post Reply
RedRight
Member
Posts: 93
Joined: 18 Mar 2017, 13:30
Location: Poland

Housing space per capita since Middle Ages.

#1

Post by RedRight » 08 Jun 2020, 10:35

It is well known that the quality of housing in Poland has improved tremendously. Wood has been replaced by reinforced concrete. However, how was the space per capita shaped? I am asking for data from the early Middle Ages to the present time. Statistics for other countries are welcome.

User avatar
henryk
Member
Posts: 2559
Joined: 27 Jan 2004, 02:11
Location: London, Ontario

Re: Housing space per capita since Middle Ages.

#2

Post by henryk » 08 Jun 2020, 20:32

Probably the same up to recently (50yr?). There is a considerable drop in the number of children, and in multi-generations in the same household.
https://polishwomen.com/articles/polish-family
Model of a Polish family

Today’s model of a Polish family moves away from the traditional sample from more than a decade ago. Structural change and introduction of economy free market indeed influenced the way of thinking about the role of a family in the society. The character of it also changed and expectations in regards to particular members of this smallest society cell. A contemporary picture of a Polish family does not fall far away from a sample of western Europeans. The traditional house, which was inhabited by several generations simultaneously is actually gone and forgotten. Yes, there are still homes inhabited by 3 or more generations but they are scarce, more or less this kind of situation is now rare.

A family is a group composed of persons connected with each other by ties of marriage, parenting, relation or adoption. Traditionally the man served in it as a role of a leader. The patriarchy created, that the Polish woman stood in the second place, if talking about the order of importance of the members of the family. In the last years Polish people stray away from regular role division. A common conviction exists, that the marriage should rely on partnership, and the man and woman should make decisions together in important issues. It also happens that the role of the “head of the family” is fulfilled by the woman. Matriarchy however is not very popular and not many men would honestly admit that it’s not them who are ruling the household. Maybe that’s why, a saying is so popular, that a man is the head of the family, but a woman – the neck, which turns this head”.

The number of offsprings on which couples in Poland decide upon, clearly falls for the last few years. The model 2+2 is prominent, which is parents and two children. Equally popular is having one child, and even not having any. This is the reason of drastically falling natural growth. Families with many children are a more and more less seen picture. A common conviction exists, that to properly raise children is a very absorbing occupation and that’s why you need to limit to a small number of offspring, which insures as best as possible start in life.
The Poles more often set in the first place gaining education. After completing the studies, buying a house and making a career, young Polish women decide on motherhood. Setting aside the decision of having an offspring for the time after achieving a high professional position and a proper materialistic status, creates, that part of marriages remain childless.

The relations in the Polish family give in to change because of increasing life tempo and also the consumption model of life created by the media. Heavy pressure is set upon gathering the materialistic goods. Poles stay in homes less and less, work very hard, are often not present and are engaged in a chase after money. To insure the children the highest standard of life, labeled clothes and expensive toys, they work overtime. In this way they lose parental contact. Nannies take care of the children, educators and trainers.

The free time is rarely spent together; members of the Polish family less and less sit down together at the table. Instead of talks, walks and activities connecting children with the parents and grandparents – most of the free time is spent in front of the TV and computer.
The model of the Polish family in the last years succumbed to a serious change and that in the least is not for the advantage of its members. The family home stopped being bedrock, a place where generations gathered and where someone was always present. The members of the family slowly move away from each other. They shut themselves out in their own worlds; tend to their own interests not sharing them with the rest of the members. Often busy with chasing money overworked and tired parents live “next” to the children, who run from the school straight to the next after school activity, also don’t have free time to play and rest. There are more and more of these broken families, divorces, unhappy children and their parents.

PolishWomen.com


Post Reply

Return to “Other eras”