Résumé des rèsultats

In the scope of the NFP 35, 28 Swiss-German parents with an egalitarian role share were interviewed about their work share, their parenthood and their occupational commitment in 1994. In the follow-up study of 2004, the NFP 52, it was examined in what way(s) the role share model had proven its value and possibly even changed. Complementarily, the view of the children concerning the egalitarian role share model and the relationship to their parents was determined. The interviewing of an equal number of children (control group) from families with a traditional role share allowed the comparison of two different types of households.

Results of the parents study
25 of the original 28 parents have maintained the egalitarian role share model. Three couples have separated in the meantime, whereas another couple was preparing its separation at the time of the interviews. The majority of the couples still lives at the same place, many of them even in the same house or flat. The differences of the couple-specific situations already established in 1994 have been reinforced since the first interviews. In many cases, the couple-specific developments appear as a chain of changes that have been mutually agreed on. There are strikingly many parallel developments that preserved the balance between the partners. Courses of development where one parent was advantaged prove to be prone to conflict. Changes of the egalitarian role model usually originate in socialisation and family cycle. The growing up of the children and the resulting decrease of demands on the parents opens up new free spaces that are usually made use of to increase employment. Other reasons for changes are to be found in the area of the individual employment orientation, the work situation or they are related to illness.

The evaluation of the role share model largely asserts the advantages and disadvantages found already in 1994. It additionally emphasises the changeableness and the ability to develop the model in the course of time. The main assessment shows that the model has largely met the expectations of the parents interviewed. The majority is satisfied with the practised role allocation and intents to keep it this way in the future. Criticism is directed to single moments of pressure rather than to the arrangement as such. Not a single couple expressed regret to have chosen the egalitarian role share model and would - in retrospect - choose it again. The divorced couples and the couple preparing its separation assess the model mainly positively. The failure of their marriage is not linked to the practised role share model but primarily originates in personal problems and/or overload at work. Separated couples mainly endeavour to continue the principle of shared parenthood. It is noteworthy that the egalitarian role model has increased its credit with family, in the social environment and at work since the first study in 1994.

Results of the children part
Both role models clearly get their characteristics pointed out by the children's responses. Most of the children from families with an egalitarian role share model appreciate their parents' choice. It gives them a variety in caretaking and through this it adds diversion to their lifestyle and relationships. Children from egalitarian families enjoy the common day life that they share with their father. Their imagination of a traditional family model is that their relationship with the parents would be rather one-sided. They believe that switching to a traditional family model would render all former egalitarian family members unhappy. Children from traditonal families accept the role model of their parents despite the fact that they wish for an improvement of the relationship between themselves and their fathers The children from traditional families miss their fathers in their everyday life and wish they had "less mother".

The results clearly show that the parent-child-relationship is different for mother and father, depending on how much time each shares share with the children. Most markedly, the relationship between father and child is closer in egalitarian familes than in traditional ones. In the former, the father is a sympathetic dialogue partner for his children. Apart from all discussions concerning the quality of the time shared by father and children, this fact is at least a result of the higher amount of shared time. In traditional families, the relationship between mother and child is closer and more trustful than the one to the father.

The results also indicate that the nature of the parent-child relationship is different in both familiy types. In sharing caretaking and job time, the parents in the egalitarian families show themselves to the children not just in one single role. The personality of their parents is seen more individually and shows more facets. The roles of the egalitarian pairs seem less determined.

In addition, it seems to the girls and young women that the egalitarian family model is advantageous. Their way of thinking is least determined with regard to gender and role typics. It also seems that they profit most from the good relationship with their father. These observations apply less for boys and young men of the egalitarian families.

In the traditional families especially, the boys and young men are strongly affected bygender and role typics. The girls and young women of this familys show ambivalent role attitudes. On one side they want to connect family and job-life but on the other side they are caught in their traditional views. However, the role model of the family does not seem to have an influence on gender-specific leisure time activities or on housework participation.

Publications

Bürgisser Margret, Baumgarten Diana: Elternpaare mit egalitärer Rollenteilung. Die Lanzeitperspektive und die Sicht der Kinder. FAMPra.ch 2/2006, S. 318-335.

Bürgisser Margret: Balancierte Modelle. Egalitäre Rollenteilung bewährt sich. Männer-Zeitung 1/2008, S. 10-11.

Bürgisser Margret: Rollenteilung und Berufstätigkeit - ein anspruchsvoller Balanceakt. In: Kaufmännischer Verband Zürich: Einblick in den Berufsalltag von Frauen; Ausblick auf die Gleichberechtigung. Zürich 2008, S. 33-45.

Bürgisser Margret: Väter in egalitärer Partnerschaft: Voraussetzungen, Chancen, Schwierigkeiten und Wirkungen. In: Walter Heinz (Hrsg.): Vater, wer bist du? Auf der Suche nach dem "hinreichend guten" Vater. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2008, S. 98-123.