Page 112 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Family policy from a global perspective

making process in policy formation. Instead, we explore strengthen, or impede the development of family policy.
the diversity of country contexts in which policies for In the following sections, we will examine the concepts
families with children are crafted, designed, and executed. of “family” and “policy” as encompassed within “family
Our focus is particularly on the impact of diverse cultural policy.” Thereafter, we will examine international variations
conditions, which can subtly influence the perception in the underlying cultural context related to the family that
and acceptance or dismissal of specific policy measures. shape national family policies and present an empirical
While economic development and budgetary constraints analysis based on the World Values Survey (WVS) and
undoubtedly influence the extent to which a state can other data.
provide support to families – whether in monetary While researchers have extensively considered
form (e.g., child benefits, baby bonuses), time allocation
(e.g., maternity, paternity, and parental leaves), or which policies constitute family policy and a consensus
infrastructure (e.g., childcare and early education) – the is emerging around the definition of family policy,
direction of state investment in families, consideration of the definition of family itself remains unresolved
normative and moral aspects, and roles and behaviors of (Bogenschneider & Corbett, 2010). This lack of resolution
family members can significantly vary across societies, is unfortunate because there is a mutual and bidirectional
even if they are at the same stage of economic development. relationship between the conception of family and
family policy. The notions of family and family relations,
The policy concern, whether to support traditional including gender and generational relations, are culturally
family forms, prioritize the individual well-being of diverse and affect the formation and development of
family members regardless of family models, or promote family policies in contemporary societies. Furthermore,
employment opportunities for all adult family members family policy itself shapes perceptions of who qualifies
and gender equality, is not primarily a question of financial as a family member, what constitutes acceptable family
capacity. Rather, it may be shaped by broader cultural models, and how these definitions evolve over time.
contexts with diverse values, norms, socio-cultural heritage, Enacted policies catalyze societal change and may impact
codified marriage systems, ethnic and religious diversity, their own cultural foundations.
kinship solidarity, societal importance attached to children,
filial piety, patriarchy, and gender equality. These cultural 1.1 Family
factors largely shape the formation of family policy and its Globally, the family is a universal social institution, serving
specific instruments (Lohmann & Zagel 2018). as one of the fundamental pillars of all societies and bearing
Even when policies are in place, one can argue that responsibility for both biological and social reproduction.
their effectiveness hinges on their acceptance as legitimate However, the cultural conception, definition, and practices
within the cultural and societal context (Neyer, 2021). of the family have undergone significant transformations
The adoption of policy instruments from distant cultural over time and can vary significantly between societies (Bau
settings may prove futile if they do not align with the & Fernández, 2021). Following the changes brought about
family system and cultural values of a country. This by industrialization and urbanization, which culminated
challenge holds particularly true for family policy due in the dominance of the modern bourgeois family,
to its normative nature. In contrast to policy fields like particularly in Western countries, we have witnessed a
health, where goals such as reducing illness and mortality process of deinstitutionalization and diversification of
are universally acceptable, family policy goals can be family forms and relationships among family members
controversial and fraught with obstacles. They can be over the past five decades (Lesthaeghe, 2020). This
perceived as governmental intrusions into private family coincides with a transformation in societal perceptions
affairs, intertwined with sensitive and emotional aspects, and the cultural image of the family. A similar, though
including sexuality, religiosity, deeply embedded ideas on more gradual, change is also observable in other parts of
gender roles, and ideological orientation. This complexity the world where traditional family structures have long
is observed even among policymakers, as exemplified by prevailed, often influenced by deeply rooted religious
conflicting values in family policy within the United States belief systems (Furstenberg, 2019; Lesthaeghe, 2020). One
of America (USA), where politicians take turns “to become key factor contributing to the considerable variation in
“champions” of supporting families in one moment and family policy across nations is the fact that policy measures
then turn around and decry government intrusion in are founded upon differing conceptions of family and are
family life in the next” (Ooms, 2019, p. 20). more or less inclusive in terms of the increasing variety of
Hence, we contend that exploring cultural conditions family forms present in contemporary societies (Lohmann
worldwide can illuminate the foundations that support, & Zagel 2018).

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 106 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1993