In the previous decade, the family underwent some important changes. These transformations are associated with the perception of the family in terms of a diversified entity – both with regard to its structure and to the relationships within it. Consequently, we cannot but consider how the feminine figure of both woman and mother has drastically changed. Due to her own agency, a woman can thus choose whether or not to become a mother – and its accompanying appointed time and conditions. This research has been carried out by means of 80 semi-structured interviews with women aged between 40 and 50 who have reached motherhood in different ways – be they biological mothers, adoptive mothers, women who achieved pregnancy through assisted reproductive technology, women without any children. Research aims at discovering the factors which come into play in behind one’s decision. Yet, it is believed that each choice aims at balancing a woman’s personal and structural dimensions – the former being related to one’s manifold phases of life, the latter to their socio-cultural environment. This investigation has revealed a more recurring presence of ascriptive factors such as one’s experiences in the family she was raised and one’s personal way to act, which is part and parcel of one’s choosing of her partner and of one’s achieving of goals. Ascriptive factors have thus shadowed contextual factors (such as employment and financial stability), as well as the presence of a system of social services to support parenting and early childhood.

The aim of the study is to examine the attitudes and positioning concerning post-divorce fatherhood of professionals who deal with divorce in their work. In Finnish societal debate, the position of fathers in divorce has been brought up. A particular cause of concern is that fathers are rarely designated as custodial parents. It is claimed that women professionals defend the mother’s right to her child. According to critical views, the authorities’ decisions are guided by attitudes, beliefs and myths related to good mothering.

The research data complies interviews with eighteen family professionals who work with divorce, and they are social workers, psychologists, district court judges and a lawyer. The research method is qualitative attitudinal research. The generation of data has made use of statements on attitudes and the argumentative interviewing method combined with semi-structured interviews. Qualitative attitudinal research includes methods for generating and systematically analysing argumentative interview talk. The focus of the analysis is on what attitudes on post-divorce fatherhood the professionals express and how they argue for and justify their views.

The preliminary results indicate that the family professionals’ positioning on post-divorce fatherhood is based on the frames of a child’s best interest, parents’ responsibility, the importance of professionals’ life experiences and the respect for the diversity of clients.

This paper studies different forms of relationality in the everyday lives of 39 Finnish mothers who have or are breastfeeding extendedly. In sociological research the concept of relationality is linked to studies concerning intimacy, family and personal life. We understand ourselves in relationships with others but also in relation to others and to the social norms surrounding us. I argue that different relationships shape the way these mothers experience extended breastfeeding in everyday life and that at the same time their maternal identity is shaped by relations to other people.

Relationships are not just given based on one’s part in the family but changing and based on will to be in the relationship. In this paper I focus on both the “given” family and the “chosen family” of friends but also to “outsiders” such as healthcare professionals and other people mothers interact with and with whom they are in relation with. I use close reading and narrative analysis to study how mothers describe different kind of relationalities and I am interested in descriptions of positive relationality but also conflicts in relationality.

This paper is a part of my ongoing gender studies’ PhD research. My research focuses on Finnish women who have been breastfeeding over a one year and on cultural aspects they encounter.

The nature or type of care is often presented as different for men and women. Moreover, childcare is often actualized as gendered (e.g., Ciccia & Bleijenbergh, 2014). Yet there are fathers “speaking in the language of care” in the same way as is expected of mothers (Doucet, 2006) and challenging the idea of gender differences in care. The presentation explores everyday views on differences between mother’s care and father’s care as described by eight interviewed Finnish parents.

The data consist of thematic interviews of four mothers and four fathers. The parents were reached either via child health care centres or via their places of work using snowball sampling. The data were analysed thematically using inductive bottom up approach (e.g., Braun & Clark, 2006)

The findings suggest that fathers’ care is generally perceived to be more relaxed and mother’s care more meticulous. Several interviewed described mothers’ care as natural, while fathers need to learn to care.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Ciccia, R., & Bleijenbergh, I. (2014). After the male breadwinner model?: Childcare services and the division of labor in European countries. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society, 21(1), 50‒79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxu002

Doucet, A. (2006). Do men mother? Fathering, care, and domestic responsibility. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

A little is known about the importance of peers from a father’s perspective during early years of their children. Being and becoming a father is important life change for most of the men. According to previous findings social support is one important factor associated to father’s involvement (Lamb 2010; Doherty, Kouneski and Erickson 1998).

In this particular research aim is to find out: a) what is the meaning of father to father talk when the child is approximately one and three years old? and b) from what matters do fathers consider important to share their thoughts and experiences?

This research includes my PhD research project and uses a part of the follow-up data from Finnish STEPS study (Lagström et al. 2013). This research is focused the Finnish two-parent families who were classified three family types. Fathers’ self -reported answers from the importance of peers were asked when their children were approximately one (N=1069) and three years old (N=720).

The presentation explores the results based on the same respondents with these two periods. Data will be analyzed by using SPSS 23 – program. Currently, the statistical analysis is still in a process. By using a factor- and principal component analysis, the instrument is also tested and created new variables. Based on the results, I will also discuss the changing context of fatherhood and what are current matters when their children grow.