Introduction

Abstract

Parenthood has become a focus of political attention throughout our modern welfare-state societies. As economic resources become more limited, attention is shifting toward how families may contribute to the development of society as a whole and the duties they have to fulfill when rearing their children. Frequently, particular doubt is cast upon the parental competencies of families of low socioeconomic status, with the greatest concern addressing the behavior of single parent mothers or unemployed fathers. However, policymakers and the media always focus on individual behavior, thereby masking the social and, above all, the economic framing conditions of parental failure and lack of well-being.