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| Could the French way of life be overrated? – archive | |
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| Paris, 20 September France’s reputation as a country of witty, intelligent, pleasure–loving people leading the rest of the world in the art of savoir-vivre is today only a myth after the publication of a survey which reveals, among other things, that the French sleep longer, work more, and read less than both the Russians and the Americans. | Paris, 20 September France’s reputation as a country of witty, intelligent, pleasure–loving people leading the rest of the world in the art of savoir-vivre is today only a myth after the publication of a survey which reveals, among other things, that the French sleep longer, work more, and read less than both the Russians and the Americans. |
| The survey, published by the National Statistics Institute in Paris, in collaboration with the Research and Social Sciences Centre of Vienna, studies in detail how people in 10 countries on both sides of the Iron Curtain spend their time. The countries are Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Poland, West Germany, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Yugoslavia and the United States. The results of the survey were presented to the recent congress of sociologists held in Evian. | The survey, published by the National Statistics Institute in Paris, in collaboration with the Research and Social Sciences Centre of Vienna, studies in detail how people in 10 countries on both sides of the Iron Curtain spend their time. The countries are Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Poland, West Germany, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Yugoslavia and the United States. The results of the survey were presented to the recent congress of sociologists held in Evian. |
| The French will undoubtedly be dismayed to see how drab La Vie Française appears on a minute–to–minute basis compared even with the Marxist way of life. If the Hungarians work the longest week (50 hours), the French, with 43 ½ work more than the West Germans, Czechs, Yugoslavs, Russians, and Americans. The average working week in the last two countries is similar at 42 ½ hours. | The French will undoubtedly be dismayed to see how drab La Vie Française appears on a minute–to–minute basis compared even with the Marxist way of life. If the Hungarians work the longest week (50 hours), the French, with 43 ½ work more than the West Germans, Czechs, Yugoslavs, Russians, and Americans. The average working week in the last two countries is similar at 42 ½ hours. |
| Without libraryIn the matter of books and studies the French are shown up rather badly. If only 5 per cent of Russian and American homes have no library, in France the figure rises to 28 per cent. Only 5 per cent of French adults are trying to improve themselves intellectually and 22 per cent followed special courses compared with Eastern European countries where 37 per cent of bachelors and 25 per cent of married men do so. | Without libraryIn the matter of books and studies the French are shown up rather badly. If only 5 per cent of Russian and American homes have no library, in France the figure rises to 28 per cent. Only 5 per cent of French adults are trying to improve themselves intellectually and 22 per cent followed special courses compared with Eastern European countries where 37 per cent of bachelors and 25 per cent of married men do so. |
| The average French woman is shown to have far less time for playing the femme fatale than is generally thought. She spends five hours a day in housework and shopping, compared with three and three–quarter hours for her Russian counterpart. Even on Sunday the French housewife makes no effort to get away from housework but spends the same amount of time at her chores as those women for whom it is the only day possible. | The average French woman is shown to have far less time for playing the femme fatale than is generally thought. She spends five hours a day in housework and shopping, compared with three and three–quarter hours for her Russian counterpart. Even on Sunday the French housewife makes no effort to get away from housework but spends the same amount of time at her chores as those women for whom it is the only day possible. |
| Strange to say, housewives in Communist countries spend more time preparing meals than French women, who rely more on prepared dishes and use more modern equipment. | Strange to say, housewives in Communist countries spend more time preparing meals than French women, who rely more on prepared dishes and use more modern equipment. |
| One item will, however, reassure the average French husband. His wife spends only 24 minutes a week “with someone else.” He, on the other hand, devotes 24 minutes a day to “other obligations.” Monsieur had better watch his step. | One item will, however, reassure the average French husband. His wife spends only 24 minutes a week “with someone else.” He, on the other hand, devotes 24 minutes a day to “other obligations.” Monsieur had better watch his step. |