Unions and Childbearing after Divorce: looking at the Process from a Qualitative Perspective.

Montse Solsona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Laia Ferrer, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Carles Simó, University of Valencia

In this paper we present a study that tries to identify the factors associated with the development of different trajectories after divorce, such as the nature of the current family ties and those taking place before the divorce, the process of rupture, and the living arrangements after it. To do so we focus on the transitions of those divorcees and separated men and women to new families that are formed by horizontal (partnership formation) or vertical relationships (biological social or adoptive parenthood). The methodology of this study combine a quantitative (the socio-demographic analysis of divorce and separation and the demographic analysis of biographies) and qualitative (case studies with semi-structured interviews) approach. In this paper we discuss the design of the qualitative methodology that was much inspired by our earlier biographical analysis of the determinant factors of divorce. We present preliminary results of the fieldwork that was carried out in the metropolitan areas of Spain where family rupture has become more prevalent. We focused on three analytical axes: women’s and men’s empowerment during the process of divorce and afterwards; satisfaction of affection and sexual needs; and construction/consolidation of family bonds.