Solidarity in Dutch Families

The nature and extent of interpersonal exchange of care and help may indicate solidarity and cohesion in modern society. This article focuses on intergenerational solidarity. On the basis of empirical data from an earlier research project on giving in the Netherlands, the authors examine the nature and determinants of intergenerational solidarity and compare the relative importance of familial and intergenerational solidarity with solidarity toward friends. The results of their analyses show that solidarity toward parents and solidarity toward friends are based on different types of feelings. Familial solidarity appears still to have an overriding importance when compared to solidarity toward friends; however, this is so only in terms of the frequency of offered assistance and care and not in terms of the accompanying feelings: love and affection are reserved for helping friends, whereas Durkheimian norms of moral obligation are the main feeling people have when helping their parents.