Beyond the Nuclear Family: A Statistical Portrait of the Changing Family in Sweden

Drawing on the latest available statistical data including data from Swedish language sources the author portrays the changing structure of the Swedish family and argues that the family in Sweden has moved farther from the ideal-typical nuclear form of the last few generations than has the family in any other industrial society. The study focuses on various measures of family structure including Swedens low marriage rate high rates of nonmarital cohabitation and family dissolution small household size and extensive movement of women into the labor force. (EXCERPT)