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 What are we researching?Families play an important role in the creation and persistence of social inequality. Within our research group, we specifically study the extent to which the parenting practices of fathers and mothers contribute to social inequality. Questions we are concerned about within our research are, for instance:
Why are we doing this research?Research shows that families determine the opportunities that a child receives in their life. This increases social inequality. But much remains unclear about how and which processes within families play a role in maintaining and increasing inequality. How are we doing this research?Our research group uses insights from sociology, demography, developmental psychology, pedagogy, and epidemiology to map these processes better. This enables us to include structural opportunity constraints and policy in our analyses while also having an eye for parents' parenting behaviour, psychological characteristics, and capacities. Bringing together all these disciplines is unique in our field. How does our research make an impact?Our research helps policymakers with legislation and regulations surrounding parenthood. Our studies give insight into the role fathers play in the development of their children. We give policymakers advice on making legislation as attractive as possible to all fathers, so that socio-economic differences in taking leave can be reduced. Our research also shows how economic changes affect the functioning of families. We find out exactly how families are affected by crises. Do they mainly lose income, for example, or does the quality of their parenting practices deteriorate? These insights help policymakers find the right solutions to cushion the adverse effects of crises. We also investigate which families in society are hardest hit by economic changes. This allows policymakers to know which families to focus on. This helps to counteract social inequality.
Abstract Households organized as families are essential units in theory on inequality because they redistribute the product of larger organizations: the consumption of resources by individuals is influenced by the power structures of their families. Households vary demographically as well as in social structure, and redistribute according to varying principles that typically contrast with those of production organizations. In particular the rules of exchange--economic vs. noneconomic--under which distribution takes place may differ from those under which redistribution takes place. Many issues in inequality theory stem from the fact that economic and noneconomic rules of exchange are both present in the same social settings. Journal Information The official flagship journal of the American Sociological Association (ASA), American Sociological Review (ASR) publishes works of interest to the discipline in general, new theoretical developments, results of research that advance our understanding of fundamental social processes, and important methodological innovations. All areas of sociology are welcome. Emphasis is on exceptional quality and general interest. Published bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December. Information about subscriptions, article submissions, and advertising rates: http://www.asanet.org/journals/asr/ Publisher Information American Sociological Association Mission Statement: Serving Sociologists in Their Work Advancing Sociology as a Science and Profession Promoting the Contributions and Use of Sociology to Society The American Sociological Association (ASA), founded in 1905, is a non-profit membership association dedicated to advancing sociology as a scientific discipline and profession serving the public good. With over 13,200 members, ASA encompasses sociologists who are faculty members at colleges and universities, researchers, practitioners, and students. About 20 percent of the members work in government, business, or non-profit organizations. As the national organization for sociologists, the American Sociological Association, through its Executive Office, is well positioned to provide a unique set of services to its members and to promote the vitality, visibility, and diversity of the discipline. Working at the national and international levels, the Association aims to articulate policy and impleme nt programs likely to have the broadest possible impact for sociology now and in the future. Rights & Usage This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. How does household structure contribute to social inequality?Because of the unequal distribution of family structure by race and the negative effects of single motherhood, family structure changes exacerbate racial inequalities. Gender inequalities also increase as mothers incur more child-related costs and fewer fathers experience family life with children.
How do modern families increase social inequality?Modern families with two working adults are richer than those with a single breadwinner, and can afford to take a different approach to parenting. This is exacerbating inequality between rich and poor families.
How does a family contribute to society?As basic and essential building blocks of societies, families have a crucial role in social development. They bear the primary responsibility for the education and socialization of children as well as instilling values of citizenship and belonging in the society.
What is household inequality?Housing inequality is a disparity in the quality of housing in a society which is a form of economic inequality. The right to housing is recognized by many national constitutions, and the lack of adequate housing can have adverse consequences for an individual or a family.
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