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Leisure practices of Polish and Latvian women

A benefit of the communist system was the guarantee of employment, healthcare, education and access to leisure opportunities. Women had access to these networks, although these collapsed in the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union and the communist government in Poland. The economic and political restructuring resulted in the reduction of support for women in many areas including child care, employment and health care (Hall, 2001, p. 192).

Leisure in Eastern Europe is perceived in the same way as in other parts of the world, as a bounded time between work and additional obligation (Bargeman, 1993). Women living in Eastern European countries have limited spare time, with the exception on weekends (Farenz, 1998). Married women in Poland hardly participate in activities such as going to the cinema, dancing or sitting at bars. Other women are more entangled in domestic life adding more pressure during family festivities such as birthdays, marriages and other ceremonies (Te Kloeze, 1998).

Political, social and economic changes have influenced the personal lives of Eastern European women, offering access to practice leisure out of their home environments. On the whole women are more oriented towards the home and easily resign from their earlier pastimes and interests (Te Kloeze, 1998).

Bargeman (1993) states that during the weekends Poles spend their time at home watching television, attend social and family gatherings, participate in religious activities and traveling. During the summer outdoor activities in parks, playground and forests, as well as gardening are popular. For the Polish, camping and hiking are some of the popular recreational activities (Bargeman, 1993).

According to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, Latvian women spend nearly twice as much time with housework and childcare, and fewer hours at work than men. Between the ages of 24 and 44 both men and women devote most of their time in employment. Overall, women in Latvia spend less time on leisure than men. Not only do leisure practices vary between genders, they also depend on urban and rural populations (Central Bureau of Statistics Latvia, 2005).

The decline in quality of life caused Latvian and Polish women to migrate to Western European countries with the hope of securing better employment and a better life. The Netherlands has become a country that has seen a large influx of Polish and Latvians (Central Statistics Bureau of The Netherlands).

For more info. read: article: Leisure practices of Eastern European women in The Netherlands after migration

References

Bargeman, Bertine. (August 1993). Out of Balance. A study of the use of facilities for recreation and tourism in the municipality of Kornik, Poland. Wageningen

Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. (2005). Time Use of the Population of Latvia. Rga, Latvia.

Hall, D.R. (2001). "From the Iron Curtain' to the Dollar Curtain': Women and Tourism in Eastern Europe". Found in Apostolopolous, Y, S. Sonmez and J.Timothy (Eds.) Women as Producers and Consumers of Tourism in Developing Regions. Paeger Publishers: London.

Kloeze, Jan W. te. (1998). Family and leisure in Poland and The Netherlands. Wageningen University.

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