Synopses & Reviews
Transitions to Parenthood in Europe analyzes and compares the biographies of mothers and fathers in seven European countries. Focusing on how working people negotiate the transition into parenthoodandmdash;and the work-life balances it requiresandmdash;the contributors provide an in-depth understanding of working parentsandrsquo; real lives within a diverse set of national, workplace, and family contexts. With rich insights into how institutional policy and practices affect individuals and families, it highlights pertinent and sometimes challenging issues regarding the sustainability of contemporary lifestyles as people try to create a healthy, supportive home.
Review
"This collaborative study provides a subtle and multi-layered understanding of the transition to parenthood within a cross-national comparative framework. Here is a study which is heartily recommended not only to researchers and students of family and social policy but also to those interested in the practice and promise of comparative analysis."
Review
and#8220;very insightful . . . crucial to understanding the phenomenon of working parenthood . . . underlines the potential positive effects of the economic downturn.and#8221;
Synopsis
Based on qualitative research carried out with young people aged from 18 to 30 in five European countries, Young Europeans, Work and Family examines young people's pathways to adulthood, and their perspectives on their future work and family lives.
This enlightening book investigates young people from a range of social classes and at various phases in their life: in training, in higher education, in insecure work and in steady jobs, including high- and low-status employment. The study was carried out by a cross-disciplinary team of researchers from Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the UK, countries that represent a variety of economic profiles and welfare state regimes.
About the Author
Ann Nilsenand#160;is professor of sociology at the University of Bergen.and#160;
Julia Brannen is professor of sociology of the family at the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education at the University of London.
Suzan Lewisand#160;is professor of organizational psychology at the Middlesex University Business School.and#160;
Table of Contents
List of tables and figures
Notes on contributors
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Ann Nilsen, Julia Brannen and Suzan Lewis
2. Cross-national comparisons: the historyandndash;biography link
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Ann Nilsen
3. Methodological approaches, practices and reflections
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Julia Brannen and Ann Nilsen
4. Comparing transitions to motherhood across contexts
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Ann Nilsen, Maria das Dores Guerreiro, Siyka Kovacheva and Janet Smithson
5. Comparing transitions to fatherhood across contexts
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Lars Plantin, Margareta Bandauml;ck-Wiklund, Siyka Kovacheva and Maria das Dores Guerreiro
6. Supports and constraints for parents: a gendered cross-national perspective
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Janet Smithson, Suzan Lewis, Siyka Kovacheva, Laura den Dulk, Bram Peper and Anneke van Doorne-Huiskes
7. Being a working parent in the present: case comparisons in time and place
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Julia Brannen and Nevenka Sadar Cernigoj
8. Conclusions
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Suzan Lewis, Ann Nilsen and Julia Brannen
References
Index