Social Processes Affecting Families in Rural Hungary. New Forms of Poverty in Minor Settlements

Abstract

Rural poverty appears in several European regions, particularly in post-socialist countries effected by a rapid transformation of socioeconomic system. The aim of this paper is to describe some crucial processes triggering the transformation of family life in rural Hungary by means of a research conducted in the South Transdanubian region. In the background of this research, there is a broad network of researchers and social experts working for better understanding of deprived populations’ attitudes and motivations in minor settlements located far away from developed centres. We hypothesize that the situation of poverty is connected to impedimental forms of norms and behaviours. We used qualitative research methods to explore some pressing problems and challenges from the viewpoints of local experts and mothers of families connected to local social systems. We also aim to examine family attitudes to the labour market, services and consumption, the most important factors effecting socioeconomic conditions of deprived social groups. As a conclusion, we can state that complex education and mentoring programs are necessary in the field of conscious family planning and in the development of self-care skills.