The role of women in the rural areas

Abstract

A significant share of Polish women lives at rural areas. Most of them are satisfied with living in the countryside and recognise a significant improvement in the general socio-economic situation of rural areas, that has occurred recently. It should be noted that alongside this positive opinion, there have been significant transformations in the functioning of agriculture and rural areas in the first years of the Polish accession to the EU and that the rural economy is becoming less and less dependent on the agricultural sector. In rural areas the number of non-farming families is increasing, and agriculture as a source of employment is decreasing for rural inhabitants. The paper analysis the changes in selected socio-demographic characteristics and the level of education of the rural population as well as the characteristics of farms run by women. It also attempts to assess the current situation and the role of women in rural areas.