A conservatism tinted of nationalism

Welded by the Catholicism and the homogeneity of the population, Polish identity is very strong. The Poles attach a great importance to the honnor and the traditions. Traditionalism takes sometimes, in the rural areas in particular, the form of a virulent nationalism, even of xenophobia and anti-semitism.

This Polish conservatism is explained by the specific history of the country. whereas in Western Europe the education system and the institutions develop the spirit of initiative, the capacity of decision and confidence in the future, the Poles have with many recoveries due to resign themselves to fight with the single purpose to safeguard their culture and their collective memory. Polish mentality keeps to these black hours a strong attachment with the traditions, a certain fatalism and a direction of the duty, towards oneself, its family, the others and its Nation.

Attachment to the family

The family links are strong, even beyond the borders. The family networks of mutual aid made possible to the Poles to support the economic crises and shortages repeated under Communism. In addition, the consecutive shortage of housing to the destruction of thousands of cities during the Second World war, obliges still today several generations to live under the same roof. In these cases, the children are raised by the grandparents. Generally, the old people are adhered.

With in general one or two children, the Polish families are much fewer than before and the divorces become frequent.

Contrary to other traditional societies, the Polish society grants a central place to the woman. The catholic Church however tends to confine it with the role of the wife and the mother. And in the households, the women assume the main part of the housework, while having an occupation in addition. The female ratio of activity caught up today and the majority of the doctors, the teachers and the accountants are women.

Reciprocal stereotypes between the Poles and the foreigners > >