ABSTRACT
As chapter 1 demonstrates we are witnessing transformations in the way that two-parent families engage with, or want to engage with, the workplace and in terms of how they want to divide their unpaid care work. Although no single dominant ‘new’ model has emerged, an increasing number of families are clearly moving away from the traditional male-breadwinner/female-carer model, and this development in social norms is a trend that looks set to continue across Europe (see Dulk, Pepper and Doorne-Huiskes 2005). These transformations have the potential to impact upon the everyday lives and individual identities of both mothers and fathers. Attitudinal studies demonstrate an overall growth in support for a mother’s participation in the workplace (see Crompton 2006; Crompton and Lyonette 2008; Himmelweit and Sigala 2003) and this is reflected in women’s behaviour as more mothers than ever before are now involved in paid work. Thus, experiences of motherhood nowadays often encapsulate a widely accepted and often crucial element of paid employment. It ought to be remembered, however, that the basic demands of childcare have not decreased and parenting is, in many ways, a more intensely demanding role than ever before (see chapter 1 and Hays 1996; Douglas and Michaels 2004; Ferudi 2002).
