An-Magritt Jensen

Children and Family Dissolution in Norway The Impact of Consensual Unions

This article presents a nationwide study of family dissolution among cohabiting and married parents of three cohorts of Norwegian children born in 1980, 1986 and 1992 respectively. The study focuses on two main topics: the dissolution trend of consensual and marital unions, and factors affecting the dissolution rates of parental unions. The results show that children of cohabiting parents run a much higher risk of dissolution compared to children in marital unions and this risk is not diminishing as cohabitation becomes more widespread. Event history analysis shows that among important predictors of family dissolution the two most important are number of siblings and whether parents are married or not. Other important factors are mothers age upon entering the union, and the presence of older half-sisters/-brothers. The consequences for children living in consensual unions are discussed.

Children's risk of parental break-up - Norway and England/Wales compared

Higher proportions of births outside marriage and more family breakdown indicate that children experience increased diversity of family circumstances at birth and during childhood. While England/Wales and Norway have many similar features, there are distinct differences in social and welfare policies. This article compares children’s experiences in the two countries in relation to these policies. Emphasis is put particularly on the impact of consensual unions. Children are the statistical unit and data from surveys and national statistics are compared. In both countries there is considerable risk of family dissolution in the case of children born into consensual unions, but the more so in England/Wales than in Norway. Even though the rate of extramarital births is much higher in Norway than in England/Wales, the corresponding rate of family change is lower. The article suggests that behind parental break-up lies an old pattern of social stratification masked as family change.

Parenthood and Childhood in the Scandinavian Countries: Challenges of Responsibility.

Parenthood is defined through its relation to childhood: without children there are no parents. However, the way parenthood is exercised is strongly influenced by social changes outside the parent-child relationship. In this article three social changes are highlighted: fertility, family changes and employment. These changes are discussed in relation to the concept of responsibility. Taking the concept of responsibility as the point of departure, the article discusses adjustments of parenthood and childhood to these broader social changes. Attention is given to Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark and Norway) as a whole, while less emphasis is put on differences between the countries.

Poverty, Gender and Fertility in Rural Kenya

Despite a global decline in fertility, in Kenya, fertility has remained at a fairly high level. This article is based on two studies in rural villages in Western Province, Kenya in 1988 and 2011. In 1988, this province had the highest fertility level in the country. By 2011, fertility had fallen, but remained high in the national context. The analysis explores the interaction of poverty and gender relations in order to understand this. The Bukusu ethnic group, traditionally strongly patriarchal, is the focus of the article. Methodology and data collection followed the same basic principles in the two studies: collecting focused biographies among randomly sampled women (and a few men), and with information from community leaders. The 2011 case study re-interviewed some of the informants from 1988 and their descendants, supplemented with a few informants acquired through snowballing. Greater emphasis was now given to men. The findings show that, despite increasing education, people are facing even harsher realities in 2011 than they did 20 years ago. The Bukusu retain a form of patriarchy in which mens obligations have been reduced, while their privileges have been sustained. Persistent poverty has triggered risky behaviour in terms of excessive drinking and sex for money, both of which are likely to push up fertility. However, limiting births also represents a risk. Present fertility levels correspond to the significance of children for both women and men. But changes can be traced in womens attitudes, with a vision of less dependence on a husband.

Comparing family changes in two rural areas of Kenya: Past legacies and present realities

ABSTRACT Fertility in Kenya declined from total fertility rate (TFR) 6.7 to 4.6 between 1989 and 2008/09. Initially, Western and Coast Provinces returned figures above and below the national average with TFR 8.1 and 5.4 respectively. Then fertility in Western Province declined substantially to TFR 5.6 while in Coast Province the decline was modest to TFR 4.8, above the national average in both provinces. I shall scrutinise this development by examining two rounds of qualitative case studies in rural villages in the two provinces, first in 1988–90 with a follow up in 2011. The analysis revealed that over time fewer children were born in the Western villages, but more in the Coast villages. The hypothesis is that differences in cultural (patriarchy and a mix of matriarchy and patriarchy) and religious (Christian and Muslim) legacies are crucial to understanding such disparities in childbearing. Attention is given to marriage, gender relations and female education.