Browsing by Subject "moderni yhteiskunta"

The aim of this thesis was to study the everyday life in self-sufficient households and to explore how do the pursuits of self-sufficiency appear in those households. The focus was especially in self-sufficient lifestyle compared to prevalent modern lifestyle. Theoretically this thesis was constructed by studies and thoughts of researchers of modernity and everyday life. The key themes were especially consumerism and efficiency. Everyday life was explored in a sense of meaningfulness and it’s rhythms. This thesis was a qualitative study. The material for the study was collected using half structured interview and questionnaire with open questions. There was altogether five interviews and five filled in questionnaires. I also used my notes from the interviews as a backup when writing this thesis. Analysis method was qualitative content analysis. Households aiming at living partly self sufficiently found their lifestyle meaningfull and living that way made them feel that they are following their values of life. Those values were especially: admiration of traditional lifestyle, ecological values and family values. Modern society evoked conflicting thoughts. Many of the respondents saw that it is important to reduce consumption. Total off grid living was seen difficult and not everyone even wanted it. What the respondents wanted the most was living at least partly without paid work and using less supermarkets for buying food. Many of the respondents were still willing to use social benefits and services of welfare society. According to the results of this thesis the respondents are active actors who believe that the choices made in everyday life are meaningful both in individual and also in a wider scale. It is difficult to create a standard of self sufficient household because they vary so much and everybody is reaching out for the level of self sufficiency that they have chosen themselves.