INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE: DEMOGRAPHY AND FAMILY SOCIOLOGY IN LATIN AMERICA

• Published in: International journal of sociology of the family Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 113 - 122
• Main Author: DE VOS, SUSAN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serials Publications 01-10-2014
• Subjects: Age; Attachment; Censuses; Demographic transitions; Demography; Europe; Families; Family structure; Households; Latin America; Loyalty; Marriage Patterns; Mortality; Older adults; Reciprocity; Socioeconomics; Sociological Research
• ISSN: 0020-7667; 0973-2039; 0020-7667

This special issue is designed to give the reader a flavor of leading edge research in the sociological study of the family in Latin America, primarily from the demographic point of view. A major attribute Latin American countries have in common, by definition, is their geographic location. They also share historical experiences related to that location. And while it would be misleading to over-emphasize commonalities, whether between or within countries, one still cannot be but impressed by a fairly salient and distinctive cultural trait that has yet to be articulated as clearly as the historic east-west European divide in marriage patterns that Hajnal so aptly wrote about half a century ago (1965) or the north-south West European divide in family ties that Reher suggested more recently (1998). It is an orientation toward the family that some call 'Familismo' or a strong identification and attachment of individuals with their families (nuclear and extended), and strong feelings of loyalty, reciprocity and solidarity among members of the same family (Sabogal et al, 1987). Adapted from the source document.