Magdalena Archacka<\/strong>: Before World War II, a large family meant having at least six children. Today, a family is considered large starting from three children upwards, according to programs targeting so-called large families. There is no clear definition or single standard for what constitutes a large family. Generally, it is considered to be three or four children, depending on whether we refer to literature from sociology, demography, psychology, or economics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frankly, I don\u2019t recall positive reactions in our social life to families with more than two children (three is still acceptable), even though I know many families with three or four children who planned their families intentionally.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I searched for scientific studies on the issues faced by large families and found that even these narratives are full of stereotypes and reductive views. In everyday discourse, we encounter terms like \u201c800+ beneficiaries,\u201d \u201cchild breeders,\u201d \u201cpathology,\u201d or \u201cwelfare dependents.\u201d In publications, these concerns translate into terms like \u201cuncontrolled procreation,\u201d \u201cdysfunctionality,\u201d \u201cpoverty,\u201d \u201clow cultural and economic capital,\u201d and families in housing crises. The correlation between these problems and having many children is minimal, as many families and young people in Poland face similar issues, regardless of family size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, all these discourses warn that large families should be viewed with suspicion. There is a culture of distrust towards large families: why do they have so many children? How much do they earn from the 800+ program? Of course, a \u201cnon-working\u201d mother is frowned upon because, as everyone knows, taking care of four children is not considered work. Strangely, we scorn people raising several children as irresponsible, while in reality, managing a large family requires self-organization, self-discipline, and responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider the social perception \u2013 if a problem like teenage depression occurs in a family with one child, everyone rushes to help because the issue is significant and receives media attention. However, if the eldest girl in a large family becomes depressed, negative diagnoses follow immediately: no one has time for her, and she must be taking on parental responsibilities in a low-capital family. It\u2019s as if the problems stem solely from having many children, while other families\u2019 issues are carefully examined to uncover their roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How did it come about that we associate large families negatively, still picturing those unfortunate working-class or peasant families with barefoot children?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Modern aversion to large families, which need not result from \u201cuncontrolled procreation\u201d but can be a conscious decision, arises from the individualistic culture we live in. Self-realization, self-awareness, self-diagnosis \u2013 these are the concepts and values promoted in the prevailing discourse. A mother of five has little chance for self-realization when her children are young and need constant care. The culture of narcissism, extreme individualism, the culture of \u201cme\u201d and consuming what can be acquired, and the culture of creativity and perpetual happiness do not align with the community of a large family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Communal thinking<\/strong> always goes beyond self-realization because children have their own needs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, income is divided among five, six, or more people, which limits individual consumption. The focus on oneself and the pursuit of maximizing consumption is evident in marketing images and advertisements: there are no families with three children, let alone four! Such \u201cpathology\u201d cannot be shown to clients!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recommend:<\/strong> How do Children Absorb the World? The Science Behind Learning<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Misconceptions](\"https:\/\/holistic.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/misconceptions-about-large-families-2.jpg\")
Large Families and Culture of Distrust<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Misconceptions about Large Families vs Individualism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n