Families and inequalities

Abstract

This article examines inequalities between families with children in the UK. Families are central to the nurturing and raising of children, yet not every family is able to provide the same level of resources, support and opportunities. Moreover, in recent decades, changing partnership and fertility behaviours has led to greater diversity, fragility and complexity between families. Here we examine whether there are discernible socio-economic gradients and geographical variation in the recent changes in partnership and parenthood behaviour. We also assess the extent to which these family developments and the attributes of the families in which children are born and reared contribute to disparities in their lives and their future life chances, with a particular foci on education, income, mental well-being, parenting and parental relationships. To this end, we provide new analyses and draw on an extensive literature from a range of disciplines.