a life course approach to leave policies

A life course approach to leave policiesThe Belgian case as example

Amandine Masuy Fellow researcher FNRSPhD student in Sociology UCL/KUL

Amandine Masuy October 2008

OverviewThe Lifecourse approachEmergence, principles, popularity, an approach, tool for policyLeave policies in BelgiumObjectives, employment and family contexts, Leave policies presentation and limitationsA Lifecourse approach to Leave policiesApplication of the principles, evaluation


I. The Lifecourse approach


I. Lifecourse : Emergence of a paradigm20-30s: Interest in child development, interactions individual & social context Life histories (Thomas and Znaniecki) generation (Manheim) life cycle, lifespan (human development studies)

40-50s: Individual experience of historical event, changes in society Age differentiation as a structural category (Parsons)

60-70s: Development of longitudinal surveys & methods, population ageingDemographical concept of cohort (Ryder), first Lifecourse research

80-90s: De-chronologisation of the life-stages Theorisation of the Lifecourse approach (Elder)

2000s: Growing interest in the sustainability of social securityUse of the Lifecourse approach in policy (e.g. Olivia framework)


I. Lifecourse: principles (Elder 1994)Human Agency


I. Lifecourse: An approachApproach or paradigm or middle range theory:

A theoretical orientation that established a common field of inquiry by defining a framework that guides research in term of problem identification and formulation, variable selection and rationales, and strategies of design and analysis (Merton 1968)


I. Lifecourse PopularityAll inclusive dynamic and contextsconstraints and freedomMethodological individualism but holistic approach help yourself Demography: marriage duration, transition to adulthood lifecourse transitionSociology: social and family relationships over time, socio-professional trajectories, life course approach, life course regime Criminology: devianceHistory: experience of war, great depression, etc.Epidemiology: cumulative risks over the life coursePsychology: lifespan development,life cycle


I. Lifecourse A tool for social policies?ObjectivesSpecific situationsConception Action field(s) Target groupsAccounting for the timeEvaluation


II. Leave policies in Belgium


II. Leave policies in Belgium: Objectives

To implement policies allowing to combine work with other aspects of life ( e.g. caring for children and elderly)


II. Leave policies in Belgium Employment situationEmployment rate15-64: women 51% men 69% (a)Parents: women 67.5% men 92% (b) 55-64: women 26% men 43% (a)

Work conditionsPublic sector : women 48% men 38% (c)Part-time : women 40% men 7% (c)Fixed-term work contract :15-24y women 36% 15-24y men 29%(d)

(a) OCDE 2007 (b) ECEO 2003 (c) Eurostat 2005 (%act pop)(d) Work Forces 2005 (%employees)


II. Leave policies in Belgium Family configurations & changes

Cohabitation, marriages ( divorces, 2nd marriage) Reconstituted family and other new forms of family

total fertility rate 1.7, Life expectancy 80 Population ageing (65+): 6.2% (1900) 17% (2008)

education duration, delay of first birth De-chronologisation and de-synchronisation of the life stages

household size, sandwich generation

INS (a) 2005 (b) 2006 (c) 2008


II. Leave policies in Belgium Federal basisEvent relatedMaternity leave, paternity leaveSick leave, palliative leave, etc. Imperative reasonsLife stage relatedParental leave50+, early retirement scheme Flexible but cumulative Time-credit/career break!!! Regional differences


II. Leave policies in Belgium Common criticsGender differencesWomen use leave more oftenSpecific cases are not accounted fore.g. multiple births, disabled child, etc.Fixed allocation


III. Lifecourse approach to Leave policies


III. Leave policies & Lifecourse: An examplePopulation: women (childless at labour market entry) Life events: single union (cohabitation, marriage) parity 0 parity 1 parity 2 (single birth, in union, irreversible) full-time part-time no work full-time (any sector, no work-parity 0 states not considered)

!!! Assumption: no simultaneous transition


sick child, elderly care, progressive retirement


Frail statuses (risk groups)transitions (thematic policies) trajectoriesLifespan (1)


Full-timeUnionParity 1Full-timeUnionParity 2trajectoriesNot necessary the straight lineLifespan (2)


Timing of transition


Time and place1985: Career BreakperiodWoman age1994: Flemish Premium2002: -Career Break reform-Time creditCohort 1960-64Average age at 1st child


Availability of grand-parents or other family membersElderly care responsibilityChild care access to services (OECD 2004)

III. Leave policies & Lifecourse New viewsGender differencesWomen use leave more often+ long term consequence on career, lifetime income (pension)Specific cases are not accounted fore.g. multiple births, disabled child, etc.+ trajectories, importance of additional resourcesFixed allocation


III. Lifecourse & Leave policiesNew approach to social policiesObjectivesSpecific situations: Event, sequence Conception & evaluationAction field(s): Multi-dimensional Target groups TrajectoryAccounting for the time: Timing and duration, cumulative (dis)advantages


Thank you for your attention Questions?Comments?

[email protected]


State the objectivesExperience of war, great depression (at the beginning)in five major trends of the 20th century: (I) the maturation of early child development samples; (2) the rapidity of social change; (3) changes in the composition of the U.S. and other populations; (4) the changing age structure of society and (5) the revolutionary growth of longitudinal research over the last three decades. In sociology, it has been well theorized by Elder (but lifecourse research existed before the lifecourse principles) Importance du temps -par rapport au phnomne tudi (la trajectoire, transition)-par rapport aux facteurs explicatifs: vnement passs, aux timing des transitions passes (marriage, etc) et la dure passes dans les diffrents status Le temps est historique (period), chronologique (cohort) et social (age)Importance des diffrents niveaux Intrt de lapproche lifecourse dans le domaine de vieillessement (et plus particulirement de laide des proches)Le vieillissement est un processus: la sant et lentourage peuvent normment changer (de manire brusque ou progressive)La relation daide va aussi voluer travers le temps en fonction de lvolution de ltat de sant de la personne ges, des ressources des personnes qui laident (effectifs) et qui pourraient laider (potentiels): dcs du conjoint, situation de crise o les enfants viennent aiderPour comprendre ce phnomne et informer les politiques, il est essentiel de le considrer dans le temps (en terme de gnration: les vieux daujourdhui ne sont pas ceux de demain; en terme de dure et de transition)

Interdisciplinary with different focuses, methods and thematic Even variation within discipline.

See Olivia Only the principles

Part-time : Less for men and more age specific, more in Brussels for both genders. 30% of part-time women made this choice for family reasons, 30% of men due to lack of full-time opportunityOlder workers: (objective 2010=50%)Fixed time work(e) (%employees) : 1/3 women 15-24, more in Wallonia (43% of women and 36% men of this group)Also regional differencesNo figures at the europeen level for work conditions

Like in most of the western countries Low total fertility rate 1.7 (2005) < replacement rate: 2.1Household size and poverty Life expectancy: women 82.65 men 77Second demographic transition (from 1960s)

not accounting for activity sector, family and formal support availability, specific child need (in case of disability, long term illness), changes of job,

For simplicity, let suppose that women are childless when they enter the labour marketThe transition which seems the safer (from the 1st birth to 2nd conception, full-time in union)The transition which seems the safer (from the 1st birth to 2nd conception, full-time in union)Employement rate ~30% (Deven) 69% (eurostat 2007)Mother employment *1961 mmoire mum census 1961/Belgium facts ECEO 2003**Ever married 1970/2002 (see admission commission UCL)Single parent 6.3% monography 1981 p75) 46% and 9.5% for the women only (2005)INS [% of total households]Compensation based on a % and accounting for family configurationData on age, work and use of leave trajectoriesDevelopment of formal and voluntary care alternativesQuantitative and qualitative increase in structures for small children (3 months-3 years) and older peopleChange in mentalities (gender equality)

a life course approach to leave policies

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