Multi-locality: a New Perspective on Family Transitions due to Separation and Divorce

1. 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 Divorce Fourth session: Lifestyles and Trajectories 15th October 2010, Valencia

2. 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

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

4. Qualitative study I: Multi-local life of post-separation families Sample • 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) Dr. Michaela Schier, German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany

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

6. Assumption Dr. Michaela Schier, German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany In thecaseof multi-locallivingconditionstheseaspectsare limited and not available per se, thusneweverydaypracticeshavetobedeveloped in dailyfamilylife.

7. Families after Divorce or Separation – Binuclear and Multi-local Family part 1 Family part 2 Quelle: Ahrons 1980: 538 Dr. Michaela Schier, German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany

8. Separation as a Process of Multi-localization – the Spatio-temporal Reorganization of Family Life Primary residence Fp 2 Fp 2 Fp 1 Fp 1 Different distances; diversity of commuting frequency and use of means of transport Short distances; regular weekly commuting frequency; by car, foot, bike, public transport Daily Family A Daily Family Weekend Family Daily Family B Shared residence Dr. Michaela Schier, German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany

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

10. New Spatial Orders in Multi-local Post-separation Families in Germany • The majority of parents live relatively close to each other after separation. • The spatio-temporal settings are dynamic. Source: Forsa-Study (2002) Dr. Michaela Schier, German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany

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

12. Multi-locality – The Added Value of a Space-sensible Approach for Research on Family Life after Separation • New insights on post-separationfamilylife • 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. Dr. Michaela Schier, German Youth Institute (DJI), Munich, Germany

13. Thankyouforyourattention! Dr. Michaela Schier Schumpeter-Research Group „Multi-local Families“ German Youth Institute Dept. of Families and Family Policies Nockherstraße 2 81541 Munich Tel. ++49 89 62306 352 Email: schier@dji.de www.dji.de/multilokale_familie

14. The Legal Situation in Germany • 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

15. Multilocal multinuclear family - new partnerships (NTF2) Fp 1 Fp 2 Distance: 20 km The new partner is commuting to see his children. Daughter, 8 Daughter, 10 Changing their residence every Friday Daily Family B = Mother and her new partner Daily Family A = Father and his new partner Distance: 3 km