Parenting related anxiety in the Finnish society in the early 21st century: childrearing and responsible parenting

Authors

• Ella Sihvonen Helsingin yliopisto

Abstract

This article studies the characteristics of childrearing and parenting-related anxiety in contemporary Finnish society. The analysis focuses on 310 documented projects, which represent the practical implementations of family policy programmes between 2000 and 2010. A documentary analysis examines in particular the descriptions of parenting support found in the data. Furthermore, Norbert Elias’s civilization process and David Riesman’s dimensions of social character are developed to interpret the social character of contemporary parents. A thematic analysis of the project documents highlights required childrearing competence of the parents. Indeed, competence in childrearing relies heavily on responsible parenthood and the inner capabilities of parents. However, the article demonstrates the fragility of that inner direction, which is due to a lack of shared traditions and values. Moreover, the article indicates how the requirements of responsible and self-restraint parenting are inconsistent with a more prevailing other-directed social personality, who relies on the values of his contemporaries.