Towards an egalitarian society: Family gender values in the young people of Germany, Norway and Spain

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse how socio-demographic variables affect values related to family and work in young people between the ages of 18 and 35 in Germany, Norway and Spain - countries with different family models and gender roles. Thus, the study aims to fill the gap in the literature on family and gender values among young people, while endeavouring to go beyond the dualistic theoretical perspective. The study is based on data from the European Social Survey for 2010, which contains variables relating to attitudes and values related to family and work-life balance. A logistical regression analysis is applied on the basis of this analytical model to determine the influence of socio-demographic variables such as education, employment situation or gender on young people’s family preferences, in a comparative approach. The results show that traditional family values are more deeply ingrained in young people in southern Europe, when compared with northern Europe. We have also observed a significant effect of education on values in countries where traditional family values are more deeply rooted, whereas being unemployed has the opposite effect. These findings bring innovative progress to youth and family studies from a comparative perspective. The findings are useful for designing family policies that favour a transition in attitudes, with potential positive long-term effects on fertility and gender equality.