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photo of Linn alenius wallin by theo hagman rogowski

Linn Alenius Wallin

Doctoral student

photo of Linn alenius wallin by theo hagman rogowski

Intergenerational care in corona times: Practices of care in Swedish families during the pandemic

Author

  • Sara Eldén
  • Terese Anving
  • Linn Alenius Wallin

Summary, in English

Objective: This paper analyses intergenerational relationships in Sweden during the corona pandemic, with a special focus on practices of care. The research question is: How is care between generations – between grandparents, adult children and grandchildren – done during pandemic conditions? Background: In Sweden, where an extensive welfare state provides affordable child- and eldercare, the corona strategy of generational separation has still affected family practices of care between generations. In this article we analyse narratives of intergenerational care, taking our point of departure in theories of personal life (Smart 2007), relationality (Mason 2004), and care as sentient activity (Mason 1996). Method: The paper draws on a qualitative interview study with grandparents (n=30), adult children (n=12) and grandchildren (n=12), with data collection taking place shortly before and during the coronavirus pandemic. Results: The study detects the reciprocal and complex ways in which care between generations takes place. When people relate their experiences, strategies for new ways of doing care are at the centre, involving creative ways of negotiating distance and risk, all marked by both worry and relief. Conclusion: The pandemic condition becomes a "filter" affecting and leading to a reformulation of practices of care, from taken-for-granted co-presence narratives, into narratives of relational participation resulting in an overall heightened awareness of the importance and difficulties of intergenerational care practices. The study concludes that a strong welfare state does not translate into complete autonomy or independence; rather, people continue to live "linked lives".

Department/s

  • Sociology
  • Department of Sociology
  • Department of Gender Studies

Publishing year

2022

Language

English

Pages

538-562

Publication/Series

Journal of Family Research

Volume

34

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

University of Bamberg Press

Topic

  • Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)

Keywords

  • care
  • defamilialization
  • distance
  • generations
  • narratives
  • relationality
  • Sweden
  • care
  • defamiliarization
  • distance
  • generations
  • narratives
  • relationality
  • Sweden

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2699-2337