Families with low resources striving for resilience in Poland

This chapter examines the challenges faced by low-resourced families in Poland as they navigate adverse socio-economic developments, particularly during periods of heightened inflation, precarious labour market conditions, insufficient access to public services and inadequate quality of those services. Drawing on findings from seven focus groups carried out in March and April 2023 with 70 participants, the research highlights the lived experiences and struggles of lone parents, female breadwinners, Ukrainian migrants, and families with heavy care-giving responsibilities. The findings reveal how rapidly rising living costs, stagnating wages and weak labour market protections contribute to widespread economic insecurity for the families in the research. Participants detailed challenges such as inadequate access to affordable childcare, limited savings and constrained employment opportunities. Despite these hardships, families demonstrate remarkable resourcefulness, often employing creative individual strategies to navigate adversities. Being emblematic of the explicitly familistic care regime, support from extended family and friends plays a crucial role; however, the availability and reliability of such support vary widely. Public welfare systems, while appreciated, often fall short due to inadequate service provision, further exacerbating inequalities. Cultural factors, including traditional gender norms, add to the burdens on women juggling work and care-giving. The chapter contextualizes these struggles within Poland's broader sociopolitical landscape, characterized by lower institutional support than in other European countries. The narratives underscore both the resilience and vulnerability of families as they adapt to complex challenges. These findings call for structural policy changes to provide more robust support systems and address barriers to well-being and social mobility.