Gezin en familie: Naar een verkenning van interrelaties

Samenvatting

Dutch sociology of the family has tended to concentrate on families in rural or unusual circumstances rather than on 'normal' families, ie, urban mc families. There has been some controversy recently on the nuclear family vs the extended family theory, as represented by T. Parsons and E. Litwak. There are a number of empirical studies of the mc family in Europe, research which is more applicable to the Netherlands than is American material. This includes various studies by the institute of community studies in London, and E. Bott's study family and social network (London, England: 1957). From these studies emerge the fact that mc families tend to live closer to the husband's parents than to the wife's, in contrast to the situation with the wc. The geographical distance between families and grandparents is also greater and there is consequently less help requested and given in everyday matters. The sociological instit in Utrecht intends to examine more closely the issues as they apply to the Netherlands. A preliminary survey will be made of selected mc families in Utrecht to determine the amount and nature of familial interrelations as these are expressed by contact between family members. P. Tiersma