Familienstrukturen und soziale Bildungsreproduktion
Titelübersetzung:Family structures and social reproduction in education
Autor/in:
Hillmert, Steffen
Quelle: Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, Sonderheft, (2012) H. 52, S. 325-345
Inhalt: "Bildungschancen von Kindern hängen entscheidend vom familiären Hintergrund ab, insbesondere vom Bildungsniveau der Eltern. Darüber hinaus ist deren Bildungsniveau mit Prozessen der Partnerschaftsformierung und Familienbildung eng verbunden. Diese Prozesse sind dem Bildungserwerb der Kinder vorgelagert. Bedeutsam ist hier insbesondere das Phänomen der sozialen Homogamie, also die Tatsache, dass Individuen mit ähnlichem (Bildungs-)Hintergrund als Partner zusammenfinden. Bildungsgruppen unterscheiden sich darüber hinaus hinsichtlich ihrer Fertilitätsmuster, d.h. in der Häufigkeit und den Zeitpunkten der Elternschaft. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht das Zusammenwirken dieser Prozesse im Hinblick auf die intergenerationale Reproduktion des Bildungsverhaltens. Die empirische Grundlage bilden Kohortendaten der Westdeutschen Lebensverlaufsstudie. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich ein großer Teil der beobachteten Bildungsreproduktion zwischen Eltern und Kindern auf soziodemografische Prozesse zurückführen lässt, die im Wesentlichen außerhalb des Bildungssystems liegen." (Autorenreferat)
Inhalt: "Children's chances of education depend strongly on their family background, particularly on their parents' levels of education. Their levels of education are also associated with processes of partnership and family formation. These processes precede the children's educational attainment. Particularly relevant is the phenomenon of social homogamy, i.e. the fact that individuals with similar (educational) background tend to form unions. Moreover, educational groups differ in their fertility behavior, i.e. the frequency and the timing of parenthood. This paper analyses the combined impact of these processes on the inter-generational reproduction of educational behavior. Empirical analyses draw upon data from the West German Life History Study. The results indicate that a large part of the observed educational reproduction between parents and children can be attributed to socio-demographic processes, which are located mostly outside the educational system." (author's abstract)
Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to
raise fertility? : the first "YES"
Autor/in:
Toulemon, Laurent
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 179-200
Inhalt: "Together with three colleagues, the author has been asked by the MPIDR to debate
the following question: 'Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing
for gender equality to raise fertility?' Setting aside the 'lighthearted' side of
this 'Rostocker Debate', (12 minutes for each speech, one minute for each comment),
the author saws this as a good opportunity to think about the stakes behind the question.
In order to address this complex issue, it is necessary to think about the many 'preliminary
questions' that we have to ponder before responding: Why should fertility be raised?
Are political measures legitimate? Are they efficient? On what basis are we qualified
to give 'expert' opinions on such a topic? When the question comes to the fore, we
as scholars are sometimes asked to provide an answer. It would, of course, be more
comfortable not to answer, but our interlocutors (politicians, journalists, teachers,
and also funding agencies) often want a definite response one way or the other. Even
though our position may be a matter of politics as well as a matter of science, we
must give an answer. The empirical evidence shows that European countries where gender
inequality is lower are also the countries where fertility is the highest. This is
the evidence-based response that we can give to that question. European countries
need to find a new equilibrium after the end of the baby boom period, when gender
equality was very low. In all countries, the empowerment of women is underway, thanks
to the economic independence given by work-related income. Increasing gender equality
is an efficient way to reduce the opportunity costs of having and raising children,
and thus to increase fertility. Finally, 'pushing for gender equality' may have many
positive effects other than raising fertility, and has few negative side effects.
Gender equality is thus a convenient political aim per se; an institutional goal which
leaves many political questions open. So, yes, we agree that governments in Europe
should be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility!" (author's
abstract)|
Gender equality and fertility intentions revisited evidence from Finland
Titelübersetzung:Gleichstellung der Geschlechter und Fruchtbarkeitsabsichten, korrigierte Ergebnisse aus Finnland
Autor/in:
Miettinen, Anneli; Basten, Stuart; Rotkirch, Anna
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 469-496
Inhalt: "Stimulated by the recent debate on gender roles and men's fertility behavior (Puur et al. 2008; Westoff and Higgins 2009; Goldscheider, Oláh and Puur 2010), the authors present evidence from Finland as a country well into the second phase of the so-called gender revolution. They examine how gender role attitudes relate to childbearing intentions at the onset of family life, intentions to have many (3 or more) children, and high personal fertility ideals among low-parity men and women. Gender equality attitudes are measured for both the public and the domestic sphere and the influence of work and family orientation is controlled for. Finding signs of a U-shaped association among men, the authors conclude that both traditional and egalitarian attitudes raise men's expected fertility compared to men with intermediate gender attitudes and independently of family values. Among Finnish women the impact of gender attitudes is smaller and more ambiguous." (author's abstract)
Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility? : the first "YES"
Titelübersetzung:Sollen die Regierungen in Europa mehr für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter tun, um die Fruchtbarkeit zu erhöhen? : die Antwort ist "ja"
Autor/in:
Toulemon, Laurent
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 179-200
Inhalt: "Together with three colleagues, the author has been asked by the MPIDR to debate the following question: 'Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility?' Setting aside the 'lighthearted' side of this 'Rostocker Debate', (12 minutes for each speech, one minute for each comment), the author saws this as a good opportunity to think about the stakes behind the question. In order to address this complex issue, it is necessary to think about the many 'preliminary questions' that we have to ponder before responding: Why should fertility be raised? Are political measures legitimate? Are they efficient? On what basis are we qualified to give 'expert' opinions on such a topic? When the question comes to the fore, we as scholars are sometimes asked to provide an answer. It would, of course, be more comfortable not to answer, but our interlocutors (politicians, journalists, teachers, and also funding agencies) often want a definite response one way or the other. Even though our position may be a matter of politics as well as a matter of science, we must give an answer. The empirical evidence shows that European countries where gender inequality is lower are also the countries where fertility is the highest. This is the evidence-based response that we can give to that question. European countries need to find a new equilibrium after the end of the baby boom period, when gender equality was very low. In all countries, the empowerment of women is underway, thanks to the economic independence given by work-related income. Increasing gender equality is an efficient way to reduce the opportunity costs of having and raising children, and thus to increase fertility. Finally, 'pushing for gender equality' may have many positive effects other than raising fertility, and has few negative side effects. Gender equality is thus a convenient political aim per se; an institutional goal which leaves many political questions open. So, yes, we agree that governments in Europe should be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility!" (author's abstract)
Eignet sich das Mikrozensus-Panel für familiensoziologische Fragestellungen? : Untersuchung am Beispiel der Frage nach den ökonomischen Determinanten der Familiengründung
Titelübersetzung:Can we use the micro-census panel for studying family dynamics? : first applications on the economic determinants of family formation
Quelle: Zeitschrift für Familienforschung : Beiträge zu Haushalt, Verwandtschaft und Lebenslauf, Jg. 21 (2009) H. 3, S. 264-285
Inhalt: "Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, das Analysepotential des Mikrozensus-Panels für familiensoziologische Fragestellungen darzustellen. Dazu wird zum einen aufgezeigt, wie die Daten in Episodenformat aufgearbeitet werden können, um ereignisanalytische Modelle des Geburtenverhaltens zu schätzen. Des Weiteren wird ein Modell zu den ökonomischen Determinanten des Übergangs zur Erstelternschaft vorgestellt. In einer Sensitivitätsanalyse wird geprüft, inwiefern der Ausfall der räumlich mobilen Personen die Ergebnisse verzerrt. Der Beitrag schließt mit einer kritischen Reflektion über die Grenzen und Möglichkeiten des Mikrozensus-Panels für Fertilitätsanalysen." (Autorenreferat)
Inhalt: "This paper discusses whether the German microcensus panel can be used for investigations in the field of family dynamics. We show how data can be set up as spell data so that event history techniques can be applied. Furthermore, a model on the economic determinants of first birth risks is estimated. A sensitivity analysis addresses the question whether panel attrition biases the investigations. The paper concludes with a critical discussion on the scope and limits of the microcensus panel for fertility investigations." (author's abstract)
Germany: family diversity with low actual and desired fertility
Titelübersetzung:Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Familienvielfalt mit niedriger aktueller und erwünschter Fruchtbarkeit
Autor/in:
Dorbritz, Jürgen
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 19 (2008) , S. 557-598
Inhalt: "Germany is a low-fertility country with a rapidly ageing population, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. There are several reasons for this trend. Germany is among the countries with the highest rates of childlessness in the world, and childlessness has become widely accepted. This is illustrated by changes in living arrangements. A broad range of living arrangements has been added to the basic model of marriage with children; namely, single living, non-marital cohabitation, lone parenthood, patchwork families and living apart together. A culture of individualism has spread in Germany which forms the basis for widespread decisions against family formation. The desired number of children has become low and family policy is considered to be a failure in terms of its influence on fertility. German family policy has had a traditional orientation centred on monetary support to families and on the promotion of the male breadwinner model. Women have been largely forced to choose between family and work, and leave the labour market when a child is born. The still prevailing concept of family policy does not help to reduce the pressure to choose between work and family life, and thus makes it easier to decide not to have children, especially for highly educated women. A change in family policy is needed which will enable couples to choose between the breadwinner-housewife and the reconciliation model. Gradually, this change is starting to take place." (author's abstract)