Politiques familiales à l'aube du 21ème siècle: nouvelles tendances et vulnérabilités dans la vie familiale

16.05.2018 18:30 – 20:00

Discutant : Olga Ganjour, Observatoire des familles de l'Université de Genève

The first decades of the 21 st century have significantly challenged national welfare states and policies to support children and families. All European
countries have been coping with new family trends and vulnerabilities, driven by both long-term and short-term social and economic developments. Although these trends and their effects vary across countries, child and family poverty levels have increased, the rebound in fertility rates has stalled, as has the growth in female employment, and pluralisation in family forms and transitions reveals various aspects and dimensions of vulnerability beyond economic hardship (e.g. stigmatisation, weak informal care support, effects of mobility and transnational living, risks related to disability or dependency). How have countries fared in tackling family and children’s issues during the past ten years? Has family and child well-being been high on the political agenda?
Have policy actions taken into account recommendations concerning financial support for vulnerable families, the reconciliation of work and family, the promotion of gender equality, the uncertainties of parenthood and parenting? And what has been the impact of these policies on families? These questions will be at the core of our discussion. Through a review of policy responses and initiatives, in the context of different welfare pathways and macro social contexts in times of economic crisis and its aftermath, we will assess the different arrays of policy objectives and measures, seek to understand how they respond to family change and vulnerable families, and discuss the factors which might be crucial for improving the situation of families in the future.