Care practices in Finnish families with young children: a capabilities approach

This qualitative study explored practices of care and care-related capabilities in families with young children. Utilizing Sen's capabilities approach, we conducted thematic analysis using data from individual interviews with 30 new parents (15 heterosexual couples) in Finland. The findings revealed that mothers and fathers had different capabilities in childcare practices: while the 'ends' of sharing care was equal, the 'real functionings' followed traditional patterns, with the mother as primary caregiver. Moreover, three different types of capabilities in childcare practices between couples were identified: (1) capabilities of contributing to the mother's agency in care practices; (2) capabilities of promoting both parents' agency in care practices; and (3) limited capabilities to strengthen the agency of either parent in care practices. While the couples in the first group relied in their care practices on mothers' expertise in parenting, the care practices of those in the second group were more equal. In contrast, the real options for support of the couples in the third group, who faced high demands that required more care in terms of intensity and resources, were paradoxically low. The findings suggest that care-related capabilities need to be discussed relationally, and that researchers and practitioners should be cognizant of dyadic methods that focus on relationships.