Family Diversity

In Family Diversity, international experts provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art of European family research and outline the multiple formations, structures, and configurations of families in Europe. Four aspects are discussed in depth: family images, sex/gender roles, globalization, and family development processes. Influenced by globalization, European countries experience processes which still have greatly varying consequences. Cultural differences - reflected in a range of family schemes and national family policies - are one reason for the continued existence of differences in the scope and speed of change processes. Quite generally, images and concepts of family have become more heterogeneous and flexible. The flip side of this coin is that family members are increasingly faced with the challenges of achieving a satisfactory work-life balance - a task aggravated by globalization. It is therefore necessary to ask how family policy can help families enjoy adequate fre