Parenthood is increasingly becoming a challenge: social crises, high ideals for a successful family life and the difficulty of reconciling family and career are putting parents under pressure. At a societal and state level, the family is being de-structured and must be compensated for by individual efforts. You don't ‘have’ a family, you have to ‘do’ a family. For parents in precarious situations, the everyday challenges of doing family are compounded by many burdens, such as poverty.
Perspective of the families
Parents and children in challenging circumstances often come into contact with social work. However, their perspectives are seldom analysed. In her dissertation, Hannah Jesgarz wants to ethnographically investigate how they experience their personal everyday lives and cooperation with professionals. Her aim is to sensitise the practice and science of social work to the views of families in precarious circumstances and to contribute to the development of the profession.
