Roles, Relations and Actions of Young People in Family Farms (Croatian OPGs) in the Municipality of Vidovec

Abstract

This article focuses on young people in family farms (Croatian OPGs) in Vidovec, more specifically on young people’s actions (using Bourdieu’s habitus), young people’s roles and on family and work relations, all of which have an impact on young people. The aim of this qualitative research is to identify the different processes that young people go through in the OPGs, which is motivated by the lack of research on this topic in Croatia. The data was collected through six semi-structured interviews. The habitus of young people in OPGs is formed in childhood and is represented by the interaction of family, social and agricultural situations. Family, work and gender roles in the OPG are recognized, especially the role of successor and helper. Young people are mainly driven by the obligation to help their parents in the OPG, for family and economic reasons. Life choices in the OPG are rarely binary and dichotomous, which is reflected in the activities of the young people and in the relations between the young people and their parents. Life in the OPG entails an intertwining of family and work relations, based on which hierarchies and different power relations can be recognized. The current conditions set by local self-government, the circumstances of Croatian agriculture and agricultural incentives lead young people to consider leaving agriculture in the future, although these reasons are not decisive. This decision is primarily influenced by family and work relations in the OPG and is linked to the problems of leaving the farmer’s habitus.