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Family Transformation and Social Inclusion. Zenaida R. Ravanera Population Studies Centre University of Western Ontario. Introduction. Beaujot, R. and Z.R.Ravanera. 2001. An Interpretation of Family Change, With Implications for Social Cohesion. PSC Discussion Paper 01-01.
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Family Transformation and Social Inclusion Zenaida R. Ravanera Population Studies Centre University of Western Ontario
Introduction • Beaujot, R. and Z.R.Ravanera. 2001. An Interpretation of Family Change, With Implications for Social Cohesion. PSC Discussion Paper 01-01. • Family Transformation and Social Cohesion Project www.ssc.uwo.ca/sociology/ftsc
Topics of Discussion • Family Change • Second Demographic Transition • Timing of Family Events and Variability of Families • Interpretations & Implications of Family Change • With-in Family Cohesion • Family and Social Inclusion • What about the Children? • Policies
Second Demographic Transition(Lesthaeghe, 1995) • First Stage (1960-1970) • end of the baby boom • end of younger ages at marriage • beginning of rise in divorces • Second Stage (1970-1985) • growth of common-law unions • child-bearing in cohabiting unions • Third Stage (1985 onwards) • plateau in divorce • increase in post-marital cohabitation • plateau in fertility: higher proportion of births after age 30.
Family Change Canada, 1941-1996 (B) Notes: For 1941-71 births to non-married women are “illegitimate births.” Source: Baeaujot, 2000:89
Timing of Family Events and Family Variability Canadian Families at the Approach of the Year 2000; Peron et al. (Centre interuniversitaire d’etudes demographic, Universite de Montreal); 1999. Beaujot, 2000: Special Tabulation from the 1995 General Social Survey.
With-in Family Cohesion • De-institutionalization of families (fewer functions, less influence on behaviour and opinion, less cohesion) • organic to mechanical? Organic/Instrumental Mechanical/Expressive
Earning and Caring Husband-wife families in terms of relative participation in paid and unpaid work, respondents aged 30-54 1992 - 1998 Complementary 58% - 56% Double burden 28% - 28% Collaborative 14% - 17%
Family and Social Inclusion O’Connor, 1998; Jenson, 1998, Bernard, 1999 • family change and recognition • greater flexibility and more avenues for economic inclusion, participation, belonging? Source: Beaujot, 2000:207; Statistics Canada, 1999, No 12F0080XIE: 5. General Social Survey, 1986, 1992, 1998.
Family and Social Inclusion Hours/Day in Paid & Unpaid Work, By Sex & Employment Status, H-W Families, Aged 30-54, Canada, 1992 Men Women • equality in the home related to societal equality? Source: Beaujot, Earning & Caring, Table 5.4
What about the Children? Children and family changes • Interest of children no longer paramount in structuring adult lives • "from era of the king-child with parents to that of the king-pair with a child" • Effects of family solidarity on children • On average, children do well in both intact and non-intact families. • Benefits to children: later child-bearing, fewer children, dual incomes • But, family dissolution does affect most aspects of children’s lives. Children and social inclusion • Children can be impediments to economic inclusion • Children are “instruments” for belonging and participation • Children as “common project” for collective solidarity
Policies • From policies based on complementary model to policies based on collaborative model? • (spousal benefits, tax deductions, widowhood benefits, alimony and pension splitting) • For children, • more symmetrical model (joint custody, equal sharing of paid leaves, private agreement on custody) • policies encouraging parents to parent (child support obligations; joint custody) • basis for children to receive support from society (advance maintenance payments, guaranteed annual income)
Framework of Analysis 1 Framework based on Coleman’s Metatheory: Explanation in Social Science