Families, Children and the Welfare State

1
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Families, Children and the Welfare State Family
definitions Family functions A European
comparison of family formation and family
values Family, children and welfare state Wim
van Oorschot Tilburg University 24-02-2006
2
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Family definitions
The traditional extended family a social
institution, found in all societies and based on
kinship ties, that unites individuals into
cooperative groups that oversee the bearing and
raising of children The modern nuclear family a
family of two married adults with their
biological children, living under one roof The
post-modern family people doing family things

3
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Family definitions

• The diversity in post-modern families
• married, unmarried
• different sex, same sex
• one, two, threeadults
• biological children, non-biological children
• first, second,cohabitation
• one, two,roofs
• Note regional, class and ethnic differences

4
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Family functions

• Family functions
• Socialisation
• Regulation of sexual activity
• Identity and social placement
• Material security
• Emotional security
• Problematic aspects
• Reproduction of inequality
• Intra-familial violence
• Suppression of females
• Functional alternatives
• Clubs, peergroups, neighbourhoods
• The state takes over day care, schools,
  corrective institutions

5
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

Trends Fertility rates and births out of
wedlock (source Eurostat)
6
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

Trends Marriages and divorces per 1000
inhabitants (source Eurostat)
7
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

8
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

9
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

10
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

11
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

12
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

13
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

14
Families, Children and the Welfare State
European comparison

1. If someone says a child needs a home with both
a father and a mother to grow up happily, would
you tend to agree or disagree? 2. Do you think
that a woman has to have children in order to be
fulfilled or is this not necessary? 3. A marriage
or a long-term stable relationship is necessary
to be happy 4. A working mother can establish
just as warm and secure a relationship with her
children as a mother who does not work 5. A
pre-school child is likely to suffer if his or
her mother works
15
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Welfare State

• Reasons for welfare state support to families
• Anti-Poverty
• Promote general well-being and living standards
• Good parenting
• Pro-Fertility

16
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Welfare State

• Instruments
• Income
• child benefits, family allowances
• child additions in social security benefits
• tax credits for (working) families with children
• local support by municipalities, charities,
  churches
• Work
• day care institutions
• leave schemes maternity leave, parental leave,
  care leave

17
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Welfare State

Instruments Different models in
Europe Scandinavia Universal state benefits and
services, especially day care Western
Europe State family allowances, child benefits,
family additions in social security
schemes Southern Europe Family support, low
state welfare
18
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Welfare State

• New families, new welfare problems?
• Families have become less stable and therefore
  less reliable sources of social and income
  support to their members

• What to do?
• Individualize welfare rights
• Equal treatment of married and unmarried couples
• Child benefits and family allowances to prime
  carer
• More state services and schemes supporting
  work-care combination day care, leave schemes

19
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Welfare State

Discussion Family support vs womens
emancipation?
20
Families, Children and the Welfare State
Welfare State

• Suggested reading
• Gornick, J., Meyers, M. (2003). Families that
  work Policies for reconciling parenthood and
  employment. New York Russell Sage Foundation.
• Hantrais, L. (2004). Family policy matters
  Responding to family change in Europe. Bristol
  Policy Press.
• Hantrais, L., Letablier, M. T. (1996).
  Families and family policies in Europe. Essex
  Longman.
• Kangas, O., Rostgaard, T. (2005). Preferences
  or care context Opinions on family and
  employment in seven European countries. Paper
  presented at the Third Annual Conference of
  ESPAnet, 22-24 September, Fribourg University
  (CH).
• Kaufmann, F. X., Kuijsten, A., Schulze, H. J.,
  Strohmeijer, K. (2002). Family life and family
  policies in Europe. Oxford Oxford University
  Press.
• Montanari, I. (2000). From family wage to
  marriage subsidy and child benefits controversy
  and consensus in the development of family
  support. Journal of European Social Policy,
  10(4), 307-323.
• Popenoe, D. (1988). Disturbing the nest family
  change and decline in modern societies. New York
  Aldine De Gruyter.
• Voicu, M. (2004). Work and family life in
  Europe Value patterns and social policy making.
  In W. Arts L. Halman (Eds.), European values at
  the turn of the Millennium. Leiden Brill.