Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the second element of lifestyle choice: ideal family models and associated sex-role preferences and work orientations. It addresses questions that pertain to all modern societies, and Britain and Spain are treated as illustrative case studies in a discussion that has wider application. The book demonstrates that it is feasible to identify women's lifestyle preference groups with just three fixed-response survey questions. It considers whether education, social class and income are important determinants of lifestyle preferences, and concludes that they are not, in either country. The book looks at the impact of attitudes and values on employment patterns in Britain and Spain. It also addresses the causes of lifestyle preferences rather than the behavioural consequences. The Spanish dataset included information on political, religious and other ideological influences, including parental characteristics.