Individualism and Families: Equality, Autonomy and Togetherness

by Ulla Bjornberg, Anna-Karin Kollind

Overview

Almost all women and men claim that gender equality within their relationships is the ideal. In practice, however, equality is not predominant within many couples and families. This book develops current debates about individualisation within families – particularly how partners understand and resolve tensions between the need for togetherness and personal autonomy, and how partners view and work with increasing gender equality.

Individualism and Families is based on a large Swedish study from two of the foremost European experts on the sociology of the family. The study looks particularly at partnering, parenting, intimacy, commitments, attitudes to finances and gender divisions of labour.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415343640
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/26/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ulla Björnberg is Professor of Sociology at the University of Göteborg, Sweden and is well known internationally as an expert in the comparative sociology of family life.

Anna-Karin Kollind is Lecturer and Researcher in Family Sociology, in the Department of Sociology, University of Göteborg. She has conducted research on stepfamilies, on social history of family counselling in Sweden and, with Ulla Björnberg, on dual-earner couples.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Families and Equality 3. Autonomy and Togetherness 4. Negotiations, Premises and Strategies 5. Divisions of Labour in the Home - Ideas, Influence and Conflict 6. How are Equal Divisions of Labour Created? 7. Dividing and Distributing Money 8. Setting Boundaries and Managing Difficulties 9. Multifaceted Equality 10. Epilogue