“What are the implications of the myth of the ‘traditional’ nuclear family for fertility?” – online LabFam seminar [22.11.2022]

We kindly invite you to join the coming meeting organised by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Labour Market and Family Dynamics (LabFam).

The guest speaker at the meeting “What are the implications of the myth of the ‘traditional’ nuclear family for fertility?” will be Rebecca Sear, Ph.D. (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).

The meeting will be held on-line on November 22nd 2022 at 1 p.m.

Detailed information and the registration form are available on the website: https://bit.ly/3U36PQB

Abstract of the presentation:

In the Western media and several academic disciplines, the ‘traditional’ family is typically considered to be a male breadwinner, female homemaker isolated nuclear family. In this version of the family, gender roles are rigidly proscribed and nuclear families (a husband-wife-children unit) are assumed to be economically autonomous. Anthropological and historical data clearly show this version of the family is a very unusual one cross-culturally, and one which is likely relatively novel in human history. This talk will present evidence that the ‘traditional’ family is one in which gender roles are more flexible, and in which parents receive considerable support for raising children from extended family members and others. Given the importance of support from beyond the nuclear family in raising children throughout history, the talk will also consider what implications the myth of the ‘traditional’ male breadwinner, isolated nuclear family might have for fertility in contemporary societies.