Agrarian values traditionally have been linked with farm families. Using data from a survey of Wisconsin farm spouses, this article explores the relationship between the identification of farm husbands and farm wives with agrarian values and related sex role orientations and position in the social structure of agriculture. As in previous studies, a commercial/refugist dimension of variation in agrarian identities was found. Depending on the structure of farm household organization, there also was substantial support for a much wider range of agrarian and non-agrarian identities than previously supposed. This was particularly so for farm wives. The change from lifestyles dependent on farming activities to those not dependent on agriculture has been central to the growing diversity in farm spouse roles and self-perceptions. Future studies need to consider three distinctive sets of value-orientations associated with traditional business, and property-holding lifestyles. (author)
Dent, J.B., eds. (author / University of Edinburgh), Austin, E.J. (author / University of Edinburgh), Deary, I.J. (author / University of Edinburgh), Gibson, G.J. (author / University of Edinburgh), and McGregor, M.J. (author / Scottish Agricultural College)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1996
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 104 Document Number: C09011
AGRICOLA AGE 85926146, Extract: The study examines evaluations of recent life experience in farming and expectations for life quality in the future as a function of farm structural characteristics and selected individual attributes. Based on a random sample of farm operators, the two sets of variables are used to predict subjective well-being within farm size categories. The results show that individual characteristics tended to be more important determinants of well- being than were farm structure dimensions. farm size and income measures had minor effects on self-ratings of well-being. Under controls, off-farm work status was not related to well-being. The determinants of well-being were particularly difficult to specify among large-farm operators.
