Description
Family and social change in 20th-century Spain
Book Summary
This collective essay analyzes the evolution of the Spanish family throughout the 20th century, debunking the idea that it is a static institution. The authors demonstrate how the family has been an active agent of social transformation, adapting to the country's political, economic, and cultural changes. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the work offers a renewed vision of the role of the family in the contemporary history of Spain, combining academic rigor with a reading accessible to anyone interested in sociology, history, or family studies.
What is it about?
The book examines the trajectory of the Spanish family from the beginning of the 20th century to the end of the century, a period marked by profound transformations: the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the Second Republic, the Civil War, Francoism, the Transition, and the consolidation of democracy. Contrary to the common perception of the family as a rigid and immutable structure, the authors argue that it has been a driver of social change. They analyze how family dynamics have adapted to new labor, educational, and gender realities, and how, in turn, they have influenced the configuration of social policies and the daily lives of Spaniards. The work relies on demographic data, sociological studies, and historical testimonies to offer a detailed portrait of this evolution.
Main themes
- The family as an agent of social change, countering the traditional view of it as a passive institution.
- Evolution of gender roles and intra-family relationships in 20th-century Spain.
- Impact of political regimes (dictatorship, republic, Francoism, and democracy) on family structure.
- Transformation of family models: from the extended family to the nuclear family and new forms of cohabitation.
- Relationship between family, education, work, and social policies in the Spanish context.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students and professionals in sociology, history, social work, political science, and gender studies. It is also of great interest to any reader curious about understanding how family life has evolved in Spain and how it has contributed to the country's social changes. It is especially useful for those seeking a critical and well-founded perspective that questions stereotypes about the traditional family.
What this book contributes
- An updated and documented vision of the dynamic role of the family in the history of Spain.
- Keys to understanding the relationship between political changes and transformations in the daily lives of families.
- A rigorous analysis that combines demographic, sociological, and historical data in accessible language.
- A tool for reflecting on the present and future of the family institution in constantly changing societies.
- Multidisciplinary perspective that enriches the understanding of a central topic in social studies.
Technical specifications
- Author: Montoro Gurich, Carolina; López Hernández, Dolores; Caparrós Civera, Neus
- Publisher: Ediciones Rialp, S.A.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: FAMILY AND HEALTH
- Collection: INSTITUTE OF FAMILY SCIENCES
- Binding: Paperback
- Number of pages: 296
- Weight: 450 g
Editorial review
Family and social change in 20th-century Spain is a necessary work for those who wish to go beyond clichés about the family as an immobile institution. Its approach, which emphasizes the capacity for adaptation and transformation of family structures, is especially relevant at a time of debate over models of cohabitation. The solidity of the research and the clarity of the exposition make it a useful reference both for the academic field and for the general reader interested in the social history of Spain.