WOMEN, MEN, WORK AND FAMILY IN EUROPE; ED. BY ROSEMARY CROMPTON

Considerable social changes are underway as more women, particularly mothers, enter and remain in paid employment. The authors explore these changes (which include an increase in dual-earner families, declining fertility, and growing problems of work-life 'balance'), both comparatively and specifically in a number of European countries (Britain, France, The Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Portugal). Original survey data, and qualitative evidence, is deployed in a series of cutting-edge chapters written by national and international experts. Social changes including an increase in dual-earner families, declining fertility, and growing problems of work-life 'balance' are underway as more women, particularly mothers, enter and remain in paid employment. The authors explore this in a number of European countries (Britain, France, The Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Portugal). Increasing numbers of women, including mothers, in employment has become a major European objective, for reasons of both gender equality and economic regeneration. Their past allocation to the home may not have been fair to women, but it did ensure that caring and domestic work was achieved. The new scenario has brought with it considerable social change, including the erosion of the 'traditional' family, declining fertility, and growing problems of work-life 'balance'. An international team of expert authors addresses these topics, drawing on original quantitative and qualitative research materials from Britain, France, The Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Portugal. Many of the chapters undertake comparative analysis, drawing on evidence from these countries, thereby facilitating a realistic evaluation of the policy options available. Wider questions, including the consequence of these changes for gender and class inequalities, are also addressed We see considerable social changes as more women, particularly mothers, enter and remain in paid employment. This book explores these changes (which include an increase in dual-earner families, declining fertility, and growing problems of work-life 'balance'), both comparatively and specifically in a number of European countries Considerable social changes are underway as more women, particularly mothers, enter and remain in paid employment. This book explores these changes, both comparatively and specifically in a number of European countries