multi-locality: a new perspective on family transitions due to separation and divorce

Schumpeter-Research Group„Multi-local Families“

Multi-locality: a New Perspective on Family

Transitions due to Separation and Divorce

Dr. Michaela Schier

German Youth Institute, Munich

Eighth Meeting of European Network for the Sociological

and Demogaphic Studies of DivorceFourth session: Lifestyles and Trajectories

15th October 2010, Valencia

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Key-Issue

• How family life is conducted and arranged after

a parental separation, when parents and their

minor children are living in separate

households, sometimes far from each other?

Dr. Michaela Schier, German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany

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Independent Schumpeter Research Group

Multi-local Families in Germany: Everyday Accomplishment of Family Life in the Case of Spatial DistanceHead: Dr. Michaela Schier Staff: Anna Proske, Diane Nimmo, Julia SelmaierDuration: 1/2009 to 12/2013 Funded by: Volkswagen Foundation, Hosted at: German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany

Research Design:- Statistical analyses: DJI-Integrated Survey ‘Growing up in Germany: every day life’ and other relevant data sets- Two qualitative studies:

a. Multi-local life of families after separation b. Multi-locality due to different types of work-related mobility

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Qualitative study I: Multi-local life of post-separation familiesSample• 11 Post-Separation Families

• In all cases – except one – joint custody

Mix of Methods• Theme-centered narrative interviews with 28 adults (mothers, fathers and

their new partners) and 13 mobile children• Visual methods (photos, socio-spatial network play)• Participant observation (recorded by video)


Child´s place of residence Distances between households

3 shared residence with equal parenting time Same village or city

6 primary residence with the mother 2 same city; 22 km; 30 km; 230 km; 374 km

1 primary residence with the father Same village

1 one child reside with the mother, the other with the father

About 560 km

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Our conceptual understanding of family

• Family = a social network of special character often stretched across several households

• Family = based on emotions and centred at personal care relations between generations and genders

• Family = not a natural and self-evident resource - family members have ‘to do family’• Management of Balancing and Compatibility• Construction of commonality and togetherness

• Significant aspects of family life: Interpersonal (incidental) interactions, trivial and everyday moments, corporality

=> spatial copresence needed


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Assumption


In the case of multi-local living conditions these

aspects are limited and not available per se, thus new

everyday practices have to be developed in daily

family life.

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Families after Divorce or Separation – Binuclear and Multi-local

Quelle: Ahrons 1980: 538

Family part 2Family part 1


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Separation as a Process of Multi-localization – the Spatio-temporal Reorganization of Family Life

Primary residenceFp 1 Fp 2

Different distances; diversity of commuting frequency and use of means of transportDaily Family Weekend Family

Fp 1 Fp 2

Short distances; regular weekly commuting frequency; by car, foot, bike, public transportDaily Family A Daily Family B

Shared residence

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New Temporal Orders in Multi-local Post-separation Families in Germany

• 85 % of children spent the majority of time with their mother, only few with their father and few spend equal time with both parents.

Personal father-child contacts Krüger 2001(n = 419 lone parents)

Arendt 2004(n = 3600 separated fathers)

Weekly resp. several times a week 25 % 15,6 %

Once or twice a month 20 % 39,9 %

Once a month 7 % 10,4 %

sporadic contacts (less than once in three month)

15 % 8,9 %

No/little contact 33 % 25,3 %


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• The majority of parents live relatively close to each other after separation.

• The spatio-temporal settings are dynamic.

New Spatial Orders in Multi-local Post-separation Families in Germany

Distance between households of separated parents in Germany (N=925)

35,7 % in the same village or city42,92 % in the immediate environs (< 50 km)11,57 % 50 to 200 km distance9,73 % further than 200 km


Source: Forsa-Study (2002)

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Multi-locality – New Needs for Doing Family…

…at the maternal and the paternal household• Arranging personal child - non-resident parent contacts• Management of an alternating number of household members• “double homemaking” and “budget management”• New working and childcare arrangements• Emotional management of goodbyes and welcomes• Children: to manage living in and between two family-worlds…because of circular spatial mobility• Mobility Management• “Being on the road and in-between”• To handle transitions…in times of spatial separation• Intimacy at a distance• „Virtual visitation“


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Multi-locality – The Added Value of a Space-sensible Approach for Research on Family Life after Separation


• New insights on post-separation family life

•Visibility of functional and emotional coherence across local borders

•New requirements (e.g. children´s mobility) and daily practices are in focus

•New essential questions for further research arise.

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Dr. Michaela SchierSchumpeter-Research Group„Multi-local Families“German Youth InstituteDept. of Families and Family Policies Nockherstraße 2 81541 MunichTel. ++49 89 62306 352Email: [email protected]/multilokale_familie

Thank you for your attention!

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• Child Law Reform Act (1998)• Principle of joint parental responsibility (coparenting)

• Joint custody after divorce is the rule

• Unmarried parents can get joint custody

• Personal relations are in general in the best interest of

a child with respect to both parents

• Parents responsibility for the child includes the right

and duty to determine the child´s place of abode

The Legal Situation in Germany

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Multilocal multinuclear family - new partnerships (NTF2)

Fp 1 Fp 2

Daily Family A = Father and his new partner

Daily Family B = Mother and her new partner

Distance: 3 km

Dis

tanc

e: 2

0 km

Daughter, 8

Daughter, 10

Changing their residence every Friday

The

new

par

tner

is

com

mut

ing

to s

ee

his

child

ren.

multi-locality: a new perspective on family transitions due to separation and divorce

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