Fathers and Mothers: Dilemmas of the Work-Life Balance: A Comparative Study in Four European Countries (Social Indicators Research Series Book 21)

At the risk of sounding frivolous, there is a good case to be made for the argument that women constitute the revolutionary force behind contemporary social and economic transformation. It is in large part the changing role of women that explains the new household structure, our altered demographic behaviour, the growth of the service economy and, as a consequence, the new dilemmas that the advanced societies face. Most European countries have failed to adapt adequately to the novel challenges and the result is an increasingly serious disequilibrium. Women explicitly desire economic independence and the societal collective, too, needs to maximise female employment. And yet, this runs up against severe incompatibility problems that then result in very low birth rates. Our aging societies need more kids, yet fertility levels are often only half of what citizens define as their desired number of children. No matter what happens in the next decade, we are doomed to have exceedingly small cohorts that, in turn, must shoulder the massive burden of supporting a retired baby-boom generation. Hence it is tantamount that tomorrow’s adults be maximally productive and, yet, the typical EU member state invests very little in its children and families. This Book Presents A Comparative Analysis Of The Dilemmas Faced By Working Parents With Young Children In Four European Countries - France, Italy, Ireland And Denmark - Each Of Which Represents A Different Experience Of The Evolving Gender Role Process. It Was The Aim Of The Study To Identify The Key Issues Concerning The Reconciliation Of Work And Family Roles, With Particular Emphasis On Examining The Barriers To Men's Greater Involvement In Domestic And Family Activities. A Major Purpose Of The Study Was To Develop New Social Indicators To Measure Issues Of Work Life Balance, Which Could Be Utilised In Other National And Cross-national Studies. The Book Provides An Overview Of The Latest Research Findings In The Four Countries, As Well As A Comparison And Synthesis Of The Situations In These Countries. It Then Presents The Results Of A Survey Carried Out Simultaneously In France, Italy, Denmark And Ireland And A Comparative Analysis Of People's Dilemmas And Coping Strategies In These Countries. The Research Identifies Which Factors In The Workplace, The Home And Society At Large Are Associated With Ease Vs. Difficulty In Combining Work And Family Life And With Parental Well-being. The Comparative Results Contribute To A Better Understanding Of The Realities Of Life Of Young Working Parents And Also Highlight The Critically Important Role Played By Public, Social And Family Policies In Facilitating Equal Opportunities And Quality Of Life For This Group Of Workers.--jacket. Preface / Gosta Esping-andersen -- Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. France -- Ch. 3. Italy -- Ch. 4. Denmark -- Ch. 5. Ireland -- Ch. 6. Comparison Of The Four Countries: An Overview -- Ch. 7. Methodology -- Ch. 8. Children And Family Life -- Ch. 9. Workplace -- Ch. 10. Combining Work And Family Life -- Ch. 11. Summary And Discussion. By Margret Fine-davis ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 321-340) And Indexes. Introduction....Pages 1-8 France....Pages 9-21 Italy....Pages 23-39 Denmark....Pages 41-54 Ireland....Pages 55-73 A Comparison of the Four Countries: an Overview....Pages 75-88 Methodology....Pages 89-95 Children and Family Life....Pages 97-131 The Workplace....Pages 133-177 Combining Work and Family Life....Pages 179-218 Summary and Discussion....Pages 219-246 Demographic changes throughout Europe have led to a changing social situation requiring new social policies.