Margret Fine-Davis
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780719096969
- eISBN:
- 9781526115362
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Manchester University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7228/manchester/9780719096969.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Marriage and the Family
The last several decades have witnessed major changes in gender roles and family patterns, as well as a falling birth rate in Ireland and the rest of Europe. This book presents the results of the ...
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The last several decades have witnessed major changes in gender roles and family patterns, as well as a falling birth rate in Ireland and the rest of Europe. This book presents the results of the first major study to examine people’s attitudes to family formation and childbearing in Ireland; it also explores the effect of new family forms on well-being. The research was based on an in-depth qualitative study of 48 men and women in the childbearing age group, followed by a survey of a representative sample of 1,404 men and women. The study explored whether changes in gender roles impacted on family formation. The results showed that while women’s progress in the workplace has been welcomed, there is also a perceived threat of women’s advancement, as well as some ambiguity in the male role. Attitudes towards marriage and cohabitation are positive and cohabitation is seen as a step in the progression towards marriage. Attitudes towards being single are also positive, though in some cases ambivalent, but single women, particularly older and better educated ones are finding it more difficult to find a partner and this is impeding family formation on their part. Differences in women’s and men’s biological clocks were found to be important in relation to this, as were the lack of affordable childcare and flexible working arrangements. The findings were discussed in light of the demographic trends of later marriage, decreasing fertility and the increasing proportion of single people in the population.Less
The last several decades have witnessed major changes in gender roles and family patterns, as well as a falling birth rate in Ireland and the rest of Europe. This book presents the results of the first major study to examine people’s attitudes to family formation and childbearing in Ireland; it also explores the effect of new family forms on well-being. The research was based on an in-depth qualitative study of 48 men and women in the childbearing age group, followed by a survey of a representative sample of 1,404 men and women. The study explored whether changes in gender roles impacted on family formation. The results showed that while women’s progress in the workplace has been welcomed, there is also a perceived threat of women’s advancement, as well as some ambiguity in the male role. Attitudes towards marriage and cohabitation are positive and cohabitation is seen as a step in the progression towards marriage. Attitudes towards being single are also positive, though in some cases ambivalent, but single women, particularly older and better educated ones are finding it more difficult to find a partner and this is impeding family formation on their part. Differences in women’s and men’s biological clocks were found to be important in relation to this, as were the lack of affordable childcare and flexible working arrangements. The findings were discussed in light of the demographic trends of later marriage, decreasing fertility and the increasing proportion of single people in the population.
Jane Gray, Ruth Geraghty, and David Ralph
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- September 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780719091513
- eISBN:
- 9781526109972
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Manchester University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7228/manchester/9780719091513.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Marriage and the Family
Family Rhythms is a comprehensive, user-friendly text that opens a new window on family change in Ireland. The authors draw on major new qualitative longitudinal datasets to develop a rich account of ...
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Family Rhythms is a comprehensive, user-friendly text that opens a new window on family change in Ireland. The authors draw on major new qualitative longitudinal datasets to develop a rich account of continuity and change in the textures, meanings and rhythms of family life in Ireland since the early years of the state. Consistent with the recent turn to more inductive approaches in family studies, the book focuses on changing everyday practices in different family life stages: childhood, early adulthood, the middle years and grandparenthood. Readers acquire insights on the diverse experiences of family life from different historical and generational points of view and on the associated challenges for social policy. Throughout, qualitative findings are placed in the context of societal shifts in demography, value systems, household economies, and patterns of kinship, community and public life. For each life stage, the Irish experience is also placed in a comparative European context. The book includes a state-of-the-art introduction to contemporary sociological perspectives on family life and introduces readers to the wealth of historical and contemporary research on family life in Ireland. Highlighted panels invite readers to look in more detail at selected landmark Irish studies and to explore extracts from the qualitative data for themselves.Less
Family Rhythms is a comprehensive, user-friendly text that opens a new window on family change in Ireland. The authors draw on major new qualitative longitudinal datasets to develop a rich account of continuity and change in the textures, meanings and rhythms of family life in Ireland since the early years of the state. Consistent with the recent turn to more inductive approaches in family studies, the book focuses on changing everyday practices in different family life stages: childhood, early adulthood, the middle years and grandparenthood. Readers acquire insights on the diverse experiences of family life from different historical and generational points of view and on the associated challenges for social policy. Throughout, qualitative findings are placed in the context of societal shifts in demography, value systems, household economies, and patterns of kinship, community and public life. For each life stage, the Irish experience is also placed in a comparative European context. The book includes a state-of-the-art introduction to contemporary sociological perspectives on family life and introduces readers to the wealth of historical and contemporary research on family life in Ireland. Highlighted panels invite readers to look in more detail at selected landmark Irish studies and to explore extracts from the qualitative data for themselves.
Margret Fine-Davis
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780719096969
- eISBN:
- 9781526115362
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Manchester University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7228/manchester/9780719096969.003.0004
- Subject:
- Sociology, Marriage and the Family
This is one of the central chapters of the book. It presents new measures of Attitudes to Family Formation. As in the case with Attitudes to Gender Roles, these were developed first on the basis of ...
More
This is one of the central chapters of the book. It presents new measures of Attitudes to Family Formation. As in the case with Attitudes to Gender Roles, these were developed first on the basis of the qualitative study and next using factor analysis in the main study. Seven measures emerged which tapped Attitudes to Marriage, Attitudes to Cohabitation, and several dimensions of Attitudes toward being Single. Detailed results are presented for the measures including factor analytic results, percentage distributions for the representative nationwide sample and an analysis of differences among demographic groups. Selected quotes from the qualitative study are also presented to give nuance and an additional perspective to the attitudinal factors. This chapter also presents data on people’s previous cohabiting behaviour and perceptions of the facilitators and constraints to getting married.Less
This is one of the central chapters of the book. It presents new measures of Attitudes to Family Formation. As in the case with Attitudes to Gender Roles, these were developed first on the basis of the qualitative study and next using factor analysis in the main study. Seven measures emerged which tapped Attitudes to Marriage, Attitudes to Cohabitation, and several dimensions of Attitudes toward being Single. Detailed results are presented for the measures including factor analytic results, percentage distributions for the representative nationwide sample and an analysis of differences among demographic groups. Selected quotes from the qualitative study are also presented to give nuance and an additional perspective to the attitudinal factors. This chapter also presents data on people’s previous cohabiting behaviour and perceptions of the facilitators and constraints to getting married.
Margret Fine-Davis
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780719096969
- eISBN:
- 9781526115362
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Manchester University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7228/manchester/9780719096969.003.0006
- Subject:
- Sociology, Marriage and the Family
In order to better understand the determinants of family formation, we examined people’s values and priorities, as these undoubtedly contribute to people’s life choices. Taking into account social ...
More
In order to better understand the determinants of family formation, we examined people’s values and priorities, as these undoubtedly contribute to people’s life choices. Taking into account social theory concerning the second demographic transition, increasing individualisation and post-materialist values, we developed measures of people’s priorities and values. We then explored the relative values and priorities of men and women and those in different family statuses, as well as their levels of satisfaction with various aspects of their lives. While men and women did not differ in terms of the importance of being in a relationship or having children, women – perhaps surprisingly – put a slightly higher priority on their freedom and independence and men put a higher priority on having a job or career. Married people, followed by cohabiting people, put a very high priority on having a relationship and having children, while single people were least likely to say a relationship and having children were was crucial to their well-being. The findings supported the notion that the relative importance of various values is associated with the likelihood of forming different kinds of unions or of remaining single.Less
In order to better understand the determinants of family formation, we examined people’s values and priorities, as these undoubtedly contribute to people’s life choices. Taking into account social theory concerning the second demographic transition, increasing individualisation and post-materialist values, we developed measures of people’s priorities and values. We then explored the relative values and priorities of men and women and those in different family statuses, as well as their levels of satisfaction with various aspects of their lives. While men and women did not differ in terms of the importance of being in a relationship or having children, women – perhaps surprisingly – put a slightly higher priority on their freedom and independence and men put a higher priority on having a job or career. Married people, followed by cohabiting people, put a very high priority on having a relationship and having children, while single people were least likely to say a relationship and having children were was crucial to their well-being. The findings supported the notion that the relative importance of various values is associated with the likelihood of forming different kinds of unions or of remaining single.
