Today’s couples: cohesion, regulation and conflicts

What would characterize today’s couples? Are they marked by the partners’ autonomy or is the concept of a “we-couple” or a “we-family” important? Do couples tend to keep to themselves or are they open to the world around them? What about gender roles and power? Is gender equality a reality or does the traditional arrangement prevail?
This book shows that there is not just one type of marital interaction, but a great diversity of models. These differ according to social status, stage in life, and social participation. Moreover, they generate different types of problems and satisfactions. This sociologic analysis of how today’s couples function is not only relevant due to the significance of this group for personal development and social integration, it also reflects the new social and political issues generated by family evolutions over the last thirty years.

Social inequality in Switzerland. Structures and perceptions

The debate over manager incomes, termination pays and stock exchange profits has brought back the problem of inequality in the minds of the people. The question arises now of whether the time of equality and prosperity for all has passed and whether Switzerland is gradually becoming a society in which a small elite rules over a large underclass. The authors analyse the structures which foster inequality in contrast with the population’s perception, appreciation and desire of change. This book conveys a complex and fascinating picture of a somewhat disillusioned society. The majority of the population disapprove of growing inequalities and wish a more even society. However, the people envisage the possibility of change with growing scepticism, partly because the State and the economy’s redistribution bodies have lost some of their legitimacy and the trust of the population.

Talking about risk: the dynamics of public debate on environmental and risk-related problems in Switzerland

Environmental and risk-related problems do not just appear - they are created. As society grows increasingly aware of them, they become major issues. These issues are influenced by complex social processes and interests. Drawing on a data base with more than 20,000 press articles, this book analyses their different implications. Four case studies provide a more in-depth analysis of the understanding and management of environmental and risk-related problems over the past fifty years, e.g. the debates on water pollution and nuclear energy, the development and the decline of the deforestation issue and the controversy over reproduction techniques and genetic engineering. (only in German)

Media texts between author and public. Intertextuality in press, radio and television

The media do not reflect and depict reality directly. They select information which they then process and modify. This process raises various questions: How do the media obtain information? Who writes the texts? How is the information changed? What does the public know about the production process of media texts? How does the public rate media texts? Media reality is not a single construct, but rather a kind of patchwork composed of various realities. Resorting to dominant patterns of construction, evaluations and perspective analysis lends the interpretation of events a certain degree of uniformity. (Available only in German)

Women's and Equality Atlas of Switzerland

The Women's and Equality Atlas describes in a comparative manner the regional differences, but also the common interests, of women in Switzerland and the degree of gender equality. (only available in German and French)

Social Report 2000

The Social Report's aim is to trace and interpret fundamental tendencies in the development of Swiss society. (only available in German and French)

Summary (PDF-Document)

Between generations. Men and women in middle age.

In this research publication, middle age is examined from both psychological and sociological perspectives. Presented are the social changes that take place during middle age, as well as the personal life perceptions and feelings of men and women between the ages of 40 and 64, illustrated by data from an empirical study which was conducted in Switzerland. (only in German available)