Individualism and Families: Equality, Autonomy and Togetherness [Paperback]

Almost all women and men claim that gender equality within their relationships is the ideal. In practice, however, equality is not predominant within many couples and families. This book develops current debates about individualisation within families  particularly how partners understand and resolve tensions between the need for togetherness and personal autonomy, and how partners view and work with increasing gender equality.

Individualism and Families is based on a large Swedish study from two of the foremost European experts on the sociology of the family. The study looks particularly at partnering, parenting, intimacy, commitments, attitudes to finances and gender divisions of labour.

1. Introduction  2. Families and Equality  3. Autonomy and Togetherness  4. Negotiations, Premises and Strategies  5. Divisions of Labour in the Home - Ideas, Influence and Conflict  6. How are Equal Divisions of Labour Created?  7. Dividing and Distributing Money  8. Setting Boundaries and Managing Difficulties  9. Multifaceted Equality  10. EpilogueIndividualism and Families develops current debates about individualism within families, particularly how partners understand and resolve tensions between the need for togetherness and personal autonomy, and how partners view and work with increasing gender equality. The book is based on a large Swedish study from one of the foremost European experts on the sociology of the family.US? 2005 Ulla Bj?rnberg and Anna-Karin Kollind