LIFESTYLE
Social Life
Kibbutzniks did not privately own any personal items such as tools, clothing or animals. Social lives were communal. Everyone ate together in dinning halls; married couples were even discouraged from sitting together because marriage was seen as a type of exclusivity. Benches were used as opposed to chairs because they were seen as more communal. Every and any measure was taken in order to foster this sense of community.
Initially there were more men on the kibbutz than women, so the work force was male dominated. Women were not treated as equals with men. On the first kibbutz, men wanted women to assume their traditional maternal roles. Women took on masculine roles, but men did not take on feminine roles. Even though women were being treated equally to men, men were not assuming equal roles of women. Adults constantly switched jobs in order to give everyone equal opportunities at each job field. Although rotation provided fair work system, it prevented people from becoming skilled in a single work field.
Children
Considering this quality of equality of items amongst the kibbutz presented a very challenging problem concerning who "owned" children. The solution to these "un-owned" children was to have each child belong to every member of the kibbutz. For example, any woman would breast feed any baby. Adults did not know how to address common issues of misbehavior amongst children in the kibbutz. They believed that in such a peaceful society, children should not be misbehaving. In response to this unforeseen misbehavior, Children's Societies were created in order to allow women to escape from their "required" role as a mother; they could now be free to work and enjoy their pleasure time. Parents would only spend about two hours a day with their children upon visiting them at the Children's Societies.
Children learn in early childhood the importance of being a kibbutznik and what it means to live on a kibbutz. Cooperation is emphasized and older children assume kibbutzim responsibilities one day a week. Elementary schools are located within the kibbutzim, but older children attend schools that draw children from several kibbutzim. Almost all kibbutz children return to their kibbutz after their time in the army.
Children of kibbutzim Over the Years
