Title

Family, state, class and solidarity: re-conceptualising intergenerational solidarity through the grounded theory approach.

Authors

Virpi Timonen, Catherine Conlon, Thomas Scharf & Gemma Carney

Author Affiliations

Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Date of Publication

04 March 2013

Series/Report no.

European Journal of Ageing volume 10, pages171–179

Key words

Intergenerational Relations -- Ireland

Social Class

Grounded Theory

Human; Ireland; Qualitative Studies; Prospective Studies; Economics; Semi-Structured Interview; Empirical Research; Social Attitudes

Abstract

The relationship between class and intergenerational solidarities in the public and private spheres calls for further conceptual and theoretical development. This article discusses the findings from the first wave of a qualitative longitudinal study entitled Changing Generations, conducted in Ireland in 2011–2012, comprising 100 in-depth interviews with men and women across the age and socioeconomic spectrums. Constructivist grounded theory analysis of the data gives rise to the following postulates: (1) intergenerational solidarity at the family level is strongly contoured by socioeconomic status (SES); (2) intergenerational solidarity evolves as family generations observe each others’ practices and adjust their expectations accordingly; (3) intergenerational solidarity within families is also shaped by the public sphere (the welfare state) that generates varying expectations and levels of solidarity regarding State supports for different age groups, again largely dependent on SES; (4) the liberal welfare state context, especially at a time of economic crisis, enhances the significance of intergenerational solidarity within families. We conclude by calling for research that is attuned to age/generation, gender and class, and how these operate across the family and societal levels.

주요 내용

계급과 세대 간 연대 사이의 관계는 더 많은 개념적 및 이론적 발전이이뤄져야 한다.

       논문에서는 ' Changing Generations ' 라는 제목의 qualitative longitudinal study의 첫 연구에서 얻은 결과를 설명한다. 조사는 2011 ~ 2012 년 아일랜드에서 진행되었으며, 연령 및 사회 경제적 스펙트럼에 걸쳐 남성 및 여성을 대상으로 한 100 회의 심층 인터뷰로 구성되었다.

ISSN

1613-9372

DOI

10.1007/s10433-013-0272-x