Argentina

Argentine families are a heterogeneous result of the many changes that have had an impact on their structures and dynamics. These changes have taken place both in Argentina and other Latin American and Caribbean countries in the last few decades.

The socioeconomic crisis that has affected Latin America since the 1970s aroused a growing interest in the study of its impact on family structures and dynamics. In Latin America, research has been undertaken from two different perspectives. The first emphasizes the study of the variations in sociodemographic indicators (marriages, fecundity, aging, divorce, etc.) and the extent to which they have influenced family structures. It also stresses the coexistence of various family patterns.

The second perspective focuses on the relations within the family group. These relations can be analyzed from two stances. The first is a theoretical stand favoring the convergence of the goals of the different family members and the different tasks or roles assigned to each of them. The second is a perspective that emphasizes the idea that the family is a microcosm where authority and power relations interact and where conflict is present.

This kind of research, regardless of which perspective it is based on, explores the distribution of tasks within families, the relation between the sexes and generations, the responsibilities and personal projects of each family member, and the strategies devised by families throughout their different stages. The research contributes to the study of family dynamics.