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Structuration of the Life Course: Some Neglected Aspects

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Handbook of the Life Course

Part of the book series: Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research ((HSSR))

Abstract

North American life course research has typically focused on how micro/meso level contexts shape men’s and women’s life paths and interdependent lives. How laws and policies result in gendered lives has received little attention. European work has analyzed how the state shapes trajectories, but has neglected gender and linked lives. Considering demographic context, laws and policies can help bridge the continental divide in approaches, as such perspectives see families as key mediators between society and individuals. Demographic shifts are creating new potentials for intergenerational connections, but increase differences between men’s and women’s lives, while policy changes increase gender convergence. Understanding of this complex picture must be sought in the intersection of macro-and micro perspectives. We must bridge research communities, across borders and methodological camps. North American life course research has typically focused on how micro/meso level contexts shape men’s and women’s life paths and interdependent lives. How laws and policies result in gendered lives has received little attention. European work has analyzed how the state shapes trajectories, but has neglected gender and linked lives. Considering demographic context, laws and policies can help bridge the continental divide in approaches, as such perspectives see families as key mediators between society and individuals. Demographic shifts are creating new potentials for intergenerational connections, but increase differences between men’s and women’s lives, while policy changes increase gender convergence. Understanding of this complex picture must be sought in the intersection of macro-and micro perspectives. We must bridge research communities, across borders and methodological camps.

With invaluable assistance from Stephan van Baarle, who helped with literature and policy searches.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See the Multilinks Database on intergenerational Policy Indicators for details. http://multilinks-database.wzb.eu/

  2. 2.

    Ibid

  3. 3.

    Source: http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/suffrage.htm

  4. 4.

    For more information, visit http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cedaw/pages/cedawindex.aspx

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for work by the second author on this chapter comes from the European Research Council Advanced Investigator Grant (ERC, 324211) “Families in Context”, and from the European Union Seventh Framework Large Scale Integrating Project (EC, 320116) “FamiliesAndSocieties”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NOVA Research Institute, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway

    Gunhild O. Hagestad

  2. Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Pearl A. Dykstra

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  1. Gunhild O. Hagestad
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  2. Pearl A. Dykstra
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Correspondence to Gunhild O. Hagestad .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Michael J. Shanahan

  2. Life Course Center and Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Jeylan T. Mortimer

  3. Department of Sociology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA

    Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson

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Hagestad, G.O., Dykstra, P.A. (2016). Structuration of the Life Course: Some Neglected Aspects. In: Shanahan, M., Mortimer, J., Kirkpatrick Johnson, M. (eds) Handbook of the Life Course. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20880-0_6

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