Changing Europe and The Relevance of Care and The Caring Professions

The aim of the paper is to introduce the challenges of the international care debate of the last ten years in order to grasp basic social needs, to analyse their treatment in the public and private sphere and to look at the orientation of professional answers by the care-professions. The concept of care enhances the societal dealing with - or ignoring of - different forms of dependency on informal and formal personal and social services throughout the life-cycle (child-care, nursing sick or handicapped persons, supporting the elderly) and in special life situations (from help to lone mothers and their children, via help to drug-addicts to help for homeless people). All societies have different approaches to deal with these life-situations, they do so by employ-ing various mixtures of: familial support, mostly provided by women, social politics, organized by the state, public and/or private social services. This welfare-mix shows different combinations of private and public obligations, paid and und unpaid work, professional and laymen's tasks based on a specific understanding of mo-rality and justice embedded in the gender structure and intergenerational relationships. The importance of social work as a profession in this context differs according to the historical developments and cultural traditions. Characteristic for the profile of social work is the rele-vance of a care ethics and the existence of social rights, the tension of mothering and profes-sional methods, the relationship between help, denial and punishment and the ways of institu-tionalisation. The actuality of this debate is closely intertwined with the restructuring of societal bonds in the face of globalisation, the political reorganisation of states, the changes in the living to-gether of different generations and both sexes and the consequences for the organisation and contents of welfare. Looking at Germany and Eastern Europe two new phenomena of social relevance for the dis-cussion of care work and care needs can be taken as an example: the extent of cheap illegal women laborers travelling between east and west, especially Polish women working intermit-tendly in private care for old people and the highly organized traffiking of women from Russia to Germany to work in the sex business. The care debate entails a reframing of welfare issues in the light of social justice between classes, ethnicities and gender groups.

Swiss Social Report: Generations in Perspective

Based on systematically prepared data and indicators, the Social Report 2012 informs about the current status and development trends in the Swiss society. This issue focuses on intergenerational relationships: How, for example, are intergenerational transfers carried out and what are they caused by? Does different cultural behaviour depend on the age group or do other social differences play a role? Do age-specific discriminations exist? Are young adults less politically involved than their parents? What impact has the demographic development of recent years had on the geographic structure? In addition to a selection of 75 indicators on these and other subjects, the Social Report contains five analytically oriented in-depth articles that are written from the perspective of the generational issue and which are dedicated to the following individual aspects: Equality of opportunities, cultural behaviour, age-specific discrimination, political involvement and the spatial reflection of the demographic changes. The Social Report 2012 is rooted in the tradition of the earlier issues of 2000, 2004 and 2008, which have been completely updated and supplemented with additional indicators. All the data are graphically presented and available in electronic form on this website. The five in-depth articles and all the short commentaries on the indicators were completely rewritten.

Cuando la persistencia es una cuestión de familia. Relaciones familiares, traspaso y género en explotaciones agropecuarias del Sudoeste bonaerense (1987-2007)

Las explicaciones del fenómeno de persistencia de la producción familiar en el sector agropecuario pampeano se han ensayado generalmente teniendo en cuenta aspectos económicos y productivos. Si bien ese énfasis coincide con la creciente importancia que la escala y la capitalización adquieren en la etapa actual de desarrollo del capitalismo agrario, por el propio carácter de estas unidades productivas -por el rol que juegan dentro de ellas las relaciones familiares- resulta necesario tomar en cuenta asimismo aspectos subjetivos y culturales, con el fin de lograr análisis más complejos y precisos sobre las estrategias que permitieron esa permanencia. En este trabajo indagamos en la influencia que las relaciones familiares y las concepciones culturales de las familias han tenido en las trayectorias de persistencia de un grupo de familias productoras del sudoeste bonaerense. En base al análisis de entrevistas realizadas a diez familias productoras de los partidos de Puán y Saavedra indagamos en el papel que los vínculos entre padres e hijos, las cuestiones de género y las aspiraciones y expectativas de los miembros de las familias han jugado en procesos fundamentales para la continuidad de las explotaciones como el traspaso generacional y en la configuración y sostenimiento de las estrategias que les permitieron permanecer en la actividad a lo largo de los últimos veinte años.

Cuando la persistencia es una cuestión de familia. Relaciones familiares, traspaso y género en explotaciones agropecuarias del Sudoeste bonaerense (1987-2007)

Las explicaciones del fenómeno de persistencia de la producción familiar en el sector agropecuario pampeano se han ensayado generalmente teniendo en cuenta aspectos económicos y productivos. Si bien ese énfasis coincide con la creciente importancia que la escala y la capitalización adquieren en la etapa actual de desarrollo del capitalismo agrario, por el propio carácter de estas unidades productivas -por el rol que juegan dentro de ellas las relaciones familiares- resulta necesario tomar en cuenta asimismo aspectos subjetivos y culturales, con el fin de lograr análisis más complejos y precisos sobre las estrategias que permitieron esa permanencia. En este trabajo indagamos en la influencia que las relaciones familiares y las concepciones culturales de las familias han tenido en las trayectorias de persistencia de un grupo de familias productoras del sudoeste bonaerense. En base al análisis de entrevistas realizadas a diez familias productoras de los partidos de Puán y Saavedra indagamos en el papel que los vínculos entre padres e hijos, las cuestiones de género y las aspiraciones y expectativas de los miembros de las familias han jugado en procesos fundamentales para la continuidad de las explotaciones como el traspaso generacional y en la configuración y sostenimiento de las estrategias que les permitieron permanecer en la actividad a lo largo de los últimos veinte años.

Cuando la persistencia es una cuestión de familia. Relaciones familiares, traspaso y género en explotaciones agropecuarias del Sudoeste bonaerense (1987-2007)

Las explicaciones del fenómeno de persistencia de la producción familiar en el sector agropecuario pampeano se han ensayado generalmente teniendo en cuenta aspectos económicos y productivos. Si bien ese énfasis coincide con la creciente importancia que la escala y la capitalización adquieren en la etapa actual de desarrollo del capitalismo agrario, por el propio carácter de estas unidades productivas -por el rol que juegan dentro de ellas las relaciones familiares- resulta necesario tomar en cuenta asimismo aspectos subjetivos y culturales, con el fin de lograr análisis más complejos y precisos sobre las estrategias que permitieron esa permanencia. En este trabajo indagamos en la influencia que las relaciones familiares y las concepciones culturales de las familias han tenido en las trayectorias de persistencia de un grupo de familias productoras del sudoeste bonaerense. En base al análisis de entrevistas realizadas a diez familias productoras de los partidos de Puán y Saavedra indagamos en el papel que los vínculos entre padres e hijos, las cuestiones de género y las aspiraciones y expectativas de los miembros de las familias han jugado en procesos fundamentales para la continuidad de las explotaciones como el traspaso generacional y en la configuración y sostenimiento de las estrategias que les permitieron permanecer en la actividad a lo largo de los últimos veinte años.

Avós e netos: uma relação intergeracional na perspetiva dos avós: uma realidade na freguesia de Alpalhão

Vivemos num país com uma percentagem cada vez maior de pessoas com 65 ou mais anos. Temos cada vez mais avós para tão poucos netos. Desta forma a importância dos avós no quotidiano dos netos têm vindo a ganhar cada vez mais relevo, dando origem a cada vez mais estudos sobre a problemática. Os avós dos nossos dias são diferentes dos avós de outros tempos. Preocupam-se em ocupar os seus tempos livres de formas diferentes, de educar os netos e estar presentes na vida deles de forma diferente. Devido às alterações que o conceito de família tem vindo a sofrer, às mudanças sociais e à entrada da mulher no mercado de trabalho os avós têm cada vez mais importância como principais cuidadores dos netos. Esse novo papel desempenhado por muitos avós ajuda, contribui e estimula os avós a manterem uma vida ativa, ou seja, contribui para que muitos continuem a sair de casa todos os dias, que estejam presentes em determinados eventos e atividades sociais, culturais e de lazer e que estimulem a atividade cerebral. Nesta dissertação é apresentado um estudo sobre o tema das relações intergeracionais, sobretudo entre avós e netos, e como estas contribuem para a manutenção, influência e promoção de uma vida ativa. É um estudo qualitativo e como instrumento de recolha de dados foram utilizadas entrevistas semidirigidas. O estudo foi desenvolvido na freguesia de Alpalhão e foram estudadas sete avós que se encontram reformadas e estão presentes diariamente na vida dos seus netos. Nas páginas seguintes estão descritas as formas como essas pessoas ocupam os seus tempos livres, que atividades desenvolvem com os netos, que tipo de avós são, as atividades que os netos as incentivam a fazer e a importância da pessoa estudada para a sua família e particularmente, para os seus netos.

Generative acts: Family and community involvement of older Australians

The article adopts a developmental approach to successful human aging by exploring the concept of generativity in relation to a study of older Australians' lived experiences of involvement in the family and community. Qualitative data, collected through focus group interviews, were analyzed interpretively using recent developments in Erikson's theory of generativity as a framework. As a result, the present study contributes an in-depth understanding of the role of generative acts to the lives of older people. The data provide illustrative support for Erikson's contention of a generativity/stagnation crisis in later life. Involvement in the family and community is seen as a productive and generative activity, which promotes a positive experience of aging. Two further emergent themes are also explored. First, the experiences of study participants illustrate the reciprocal and cyclical nature of grand-generativity, and the importance of intergenerational relationships. Finally, the data contribute to our knowledge of cultural generativity, and in particular the passing on of cultural knowledge through narratives and modeling.

A Parentalidade tardia : Os pais, os filhos e o amanhã

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica

Deleuzian dolls : subverting identities through intergenerational collaborative drawing

This paper explores concepts of desire and rhizomatic working through a series of intergenerational collaborative drawing episodes. Particularly, mother/daughter relationships are examined via drawings created by the author and her young daughter. Drawings hold on their surface unpredictable connections to things experienced, known, conceptualized and imagined. In the context of this paper desire is seen to drive adults and children into expressing and making a mark, to make an imprint. Here, the prompts that inform a drawing are regarded as a rhizomatic network of chaotic actions and thoughts that connect each drawer to the tools, the paper and each other in unpredictable and mutable ways. The paper concludes by discussing how these intergenerational collaborative drawing episodes offer opportunities to re-imagine relationships, communications and learning in early childhood education.

Reducing age bias and turnover intentions by enhancing intergenerational contact quality in the workplace: The role of opportunities for generativity and development

Based on socio-emotional selectivity and self-categorization theories, we developed and tested a model on how the interplay between employee age and opportunities for generativity and development predicts age bias and turnover intentions via intergenerational contact quality in the workplace. We hypothesized indirect effects of opportunities for generativity on outcomes through intergenerational contact quality among older workers only, whereas we expected that the indirect effects of opportunities for development are stronger for young compared with older workers. Data came from 321 employees in Belgium who responded to an online questionnaire. Results showed that age moderated the relationships of opportunities for generativity and development with intergenerational contact quality consistent with the expected patterns. Furthermore, age moderated the indirect effects of opportunities for generativity and development on age bias through intergenerational contact quality, but not on turnover intentions. Implications for future research and practical suggestions for managing intergenerational contact at work are discussed.

The Body and the Parent-Daughter Bond : Negotiating Haitian Filial Relationships in Edwidge Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory and The Dew Breaker

The Body and the Parent-Daughter Bond: Negotiating Filial Relationships in Edwidge Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory and The Dew Breaker est une étude sur les différentes façons dont le corps déséquilibré, torturé et traumatisé influence la relation parent-fille. Cette thèse examine l’impact du pouvoir et de la violence sur le corps aussi bien des parents que celui des filles et les différentes manières dont ces corps deviennent déséquilibrés. Cette thèse porte sur la construction et la négociation de chacune des conditions de parents et de filles sous l’angle du corps sexué traumatisé. Le premier chapitre traite la littérature précédemment écrite sur le corps en premier lieu, et sur les liens de filiation dans les deux œuvres en second lieu. J'ai introduit ma contribution au domaine et les différents aspects de la relation parent-fille qui ne sont pas pris en considération et que ma thèse essaye de démontrer. Ce chapitre contextualise ces deux œuvres pendant l’ère de la dictature des deux Duvaliers, père et fils, en exposant et discutant l’impacte néfaste de cette dictature sur les familles. Ce chapitre conceptualise et définit le corps, qui est une construction culturelle et un site d'interaction entre le pouvoir et la violence, par rapport aux relations filiales. Dans le deuxième chapitre, l'accent est mis sur la relation de Martine et Sophie par rapport à la pratique rituelle du test de la virginité. Dans ce chapitre, j’ai soulevé des questions sur le pouvoir de Martine de discipliner et contrôler l’attitude et le corps de Sophie et la manière avec laquelle la fille peut réagir au contrôle et à la subjugation de sa mère. J’ai examiné le conflit intergénérationnel qui est intensifié par le désordre corporel. J’ai essayé de démontrer comment Sophie souhaite rejeter et se séparer du corps de sa mère et son incapacité à le faire. Dans le troisième chapitre, j’ai étudié la relation de M. Bienaimé avec sa fille Ka qui est perturbée à la fois par le corps de son père et l’identité antérieure de ce dernier en tant qu’ancien Tonton Macoute. La question soulevée dans ce chapitre concerne le corps du père comme un agent de violence politique et comme une source d’inspiration artistique pour sa fille. L'identification de Ka avec et plus tard sa séparation du corps de son père est au cœur de mon étude, car c’est ce corps là qui modifie cette relation filiale particulière, qui résulte en un traumatisme transgénérationnel. Mots-clés: corps, relation parent-fille, pouvoir, violence, Edwidge Danticat

Intergenerational effects of birth weight on glucose tolerance and reproductive performance

Women who were themselves small-for-gestational age (SGA) are at a greater risk of adulthood diseases such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and twice at risk of having an SGA baby themselves. The aim of this study was to examine the intergenerational pig. Low (L) and normal (N) birth weight female piglets were followed throughout their first pregnancy (generation 1 (0)). After they had given birth, the growth and development of the lightest (I) and heaviest (n) female piglet from each litter were monitored until approximately 5 months of age (generation 2 (G2)). A glucose tolerance test (GTT) was conducted on G1 pig at similar to 6 months of age and again during late pregnancy; a GTT was also conducted on G2 pigs at similar to 4 months of age. G1 L offspring exhibited impaired glucose metabolism in later life compared to their G1 N sibling but in the next generation a similar scenario was only observed between I and n offspring born to G1 L mothers. Despite G1 L mothers showing greater glucose intolerance in late pregnancy and a decreased litter size, average piglet birth weight was reduced and there was also a large variation in litter weight; this suggests that they were, to some extent, prioritising their nutrient intake towards themselves rather than promoting their reproductive performance. There were numerous relationships between body shape at birth and glucose curve characteristics in later life, which can, to some extent, be used to predict neonatal outcome. In conclusion, intergenerational effects are partly seen in the pig. It is likely that some of the intergenerational influences may be masked due to the pig being a litter-bearing species.

Intergenerational persistence in health in developing countries : the penalty of gender inequality?

This paper is motivated to investigate the often neglected payoff to investments in the health of girls and women in terms of next generation outcomes. This paper investigates the intergenerational persistence of health across time and region as well as across the distribution of maternal health. It uses comparable microdata on as many as 2.24 million children born of about 0.6 million mothers in 38 developing countries in the 31 year period, 1970–2000. Mother's health is indicated by her height, BMI and anemia status. Child health is indicated by mortality risk and anthropometric failure. We find a positive relationship between maternal and child health across indicators and highlight non-linearities in these relationships. The results suggest that both contemporary and childhood health of the mother matter and that the benefits to the next generation are likely to be persistent. Averaging across the sample, persistence shows a considerable decline over time. Disaggregation shows that the decline is only significant in Latin America. Persistence has remained largely constant in Asia and has risen in Africa. The paper provides the first cross-country estimates of the intergenerational persistence in health and the first estimates of trends.