GenFam examines how demographic behaviour, gender relations, and family structures are evolving in Switzerland. The project focuses on three closely connected societal developments: the diversification of family forms, persistent inequalities in the division of paid and unpaid work, and sustained low and postponed fertility. Switzerland provides an important case for studying these dynamics because social change in family behaviour has occurred alongside a comparatively limited expansion of family policies and strong reliance on private arrangements for organising care and employment, as well as structural constraints such as the high cost and limited availability of childcare and the federal organisation of policy-making.
The project comprises four substantial work packages and is guided by three overarching analytical perspectives: life-course, intersectionality, and cross-national comparison. Together, these perspectives provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how family trajectories evolve over time, how inequalities emerge and differ between social groups, and how institutional and cultural contexts shape demographic behaviour across countries.
More concretely, the four work packages (WPs) of GenFam focuse on:
1. Family diversification, family ties, and well-being
This work package examines how family diversification and changing family and social ties shape individuals’ well-being, resilience, and inequalities. It explores how institutional contexts and normative climates support or disadvantage diverse family forms, as well as how individuals draw on family and non-family relationships for practical and emotional support. It also considers how these patterns vary across social groups and national contexts, with a particular focus on Switzerland. The two sub-projects examine, respectively, how institutional and normative contexts affect diverse families, and how family and wider social networks can support or constrain individual well-being. Team: Clementine Rossier, Núria Sánchez-Mira, Myriam Girardin, Eric Widmer, Fei Bian, Abdi Bulti.
2. Attitudes, education and gendered division of work
This work package analyses how couples organise paid employment and domestic responsibilities, and why gender inequalities in the division of work persist. Particular attention is given to the relationship between gender role attitudes and everyday household practices. It also investigates how educational attainment, occupational characteristics, and labour market opportunities shape partners’ employment patterns and the division of unpaid work. One sub-project focuses on the relationships between gender role attitudes and the division of domestic work, while the other examines interdependencies in coupes in relation to education, occupation, and employment patterns, across different life stages and institutional contexts. Team: Stephanie Steinmetz, Irene Kriesi, Jean-Marie Le Goff, Miriam Grønning, Mena Lüsse, Antje Stefani.
3. Understanding low fertility and assisted reproduction in context
This work package examines the factors shaping fertility intentions and their realisation, including the postponement of parenthood and increasing childlessness. It explores how fertility decisions are influenced by gender relations, economic resources, cultural norms, family policies, and perceptions of uncertainty, and how these factors vary across social and national contexts. It also examines the growing use of reproductive technologies and the inequalities in access to them. One sub-project focuses on the individual and societal factors shaping fertility decisions, while the other investigates how social, cultural, and institutional contexts influence decisions to use reproductive technologies. Team: Jörg Rössel, Katja Rost, Clementine Rossier, Marco Giesselmann, Jacob Schmechel, Angela Christen, Pascal Daniel Seger.
4. Assessing policy measures – Switzerland’s response to identified challenges
This work package examines the policy environment relevant to families, gender equality, and reproduction in Switzerland. Through systematic policy mapping, document analysis, and expert consultations, it assesses how existing and proposed policies at the national and cantonal levels address the societal developments and challenges identified in the other work packages. It considers how political debates, problem definitions, and policy choices shape institutional responses, and evaluates where policies effectively address emerging challenges or where gaps remain. Thereby, this research contextualises quantitative evidence within broader socio-political debates and identifies opportunities for policy improvements. Team: Gesine Fuchs, Isabelle Zinn, Christiane Meyer-Habighorst, Florentina Mender.
Consortium members
