The European Family: Patriarchy to Partnership from the Middle Ages to the Present

by Michael Mitterauer, Reinhard Sieder, Manfred Hörzinger (translator)

During six centuries of religious, political and social upheaval, perhaps the most remarkable feature of the European family is its survival. Even today in a period of unprecedented social and sexual mobility, the stable family remains central to the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of people in the West. Yet the forms and functions of the family and the ideals associated with it have changed, both causing and being moulded by changes in the larger institutions of society. The European Family draws on a wide range of historical research to examine what these changes have been, why they have come about and how they may affect us in the future.

The authors argue that there has been a gradual transformation of the family from a unit characterized by patriarchy to one essentially a partnership of relatively independent individuals with overlapping roles. They consider, too, how far the notion of the extended family of past epochs as a haven of moral virtue and social stability is a myth or was indeed a reality of village society in early modern agricultural Europe.

Genres: History

251 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1977

Reviews

[Richard]

I read this for an Independent Study course for Brigham Young University.

I read all but one chapter (ch. 4) as assigned for each reading assignment.

I would give this book 2.5 stars. The arguments in each chapter were roughly defined. I did enjoy how Mitterauer picked apart socliological theories about the historic family. I don't agree with every aspect he argues. I'm actually reading another book entitled "The Family the Western World", by Beatrice Gottlieb. Her arguments (and opinions) are a bit more dynamic. Mitterauer's arguments, while interesting, seem rather flat and one-sided at times.

The translation was also a bit rough, since it was published from German to English. It could have used a little more editing with some mechanical errors that were made.

I had a rough time reading through this book, but I pushed through it because of the class I'm taking.