Motherhood in Switzerland

The changing face of motherhood in Austria — download the full report in pdf format Click on the accompanying image to download and read the full document using Adobe's Acrobat Reader.

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The changing face of motherhood in Switzerland

Introduction

According to a Save the Children study, Switzerland is the 14th best place in the world to be a mother. Swiss motherhood is characterized by the ongoing presence of traditional family values, although there are groups and individuals who do not conform to such principles. Swiss women were late, by western European standards, to enter the world of politics and to gain equal legal rights with men. The traditional idea of women as homemakers still exists, especially amongst older generations. Switzerland’s federal political structure means that state interference in issues concerning mothers and the family is limited and a laissez-faire attitude towards the family prevails.

Historical perspectives

Swiss society has been characterised for centuries by a distinct division between the male public sphere and the female domestic sphere. It is only been in the past few decades that legislative changes have challenged this divide. These changes have seen rising levels of women, including mothers, entering the workforce and men taking a more active role in home and family life. Longstanding ideas about men and women’s specific roles and duties, however, can still be found in contemporary Switzerland.

Click here to download the report in pdf format.

The Changing Face of Motherhood research was commissioned by Procter & Gamble (P&G)