Law and Family Diversity

A family consisting of parents of the opposite sex and their biological children has been the basis for family and social welfare legislation. However, people’s lives do not always coincide with this presumption; family structures are more diverse than the current legislation acknowledges.

This study investigates the legal challenges faced by families that differ from the normative family structure (divorce families, single-parent families, blended families, LGBTQ+ families, adoptive families, foster families, and co-parenting families) and proposes solutions to said challenges. In addition, the research project aims to evaluate the prevalence of each identified challenge, how the significance of the challenge should be evaluated, and whether there are alternatives to the proposed solutions.

This consortium project collects different data (e.g. survey data, focus groups interviews, legal texts, reports, preparatory legislative documents). The subproject carried out by Kela Research focuses on the challenges faced by diverse families when dealing with social security benefits. The project is funded by VN TEAS, the Government’s analysis, assessment, and research activities. 

Researcher

• Ella Sihvonen, Leading Researcher

Project Implementation Period

3/2022–3/2023 The project has ended.

Project Results

• Research Publication: Law and Family Diversity

Cooperation Partners

• Read more on the project (in Finnish) from Väestöliitto (vaestoliitto.fi)
• Sateenkaariperheet ry – Families in all colours of the rainbow (sateenkaariperheet.fi)
• Diverse Families Network (monimuotoisetperheet.fi)
• Read more on the project (in Finnish) – Laki ja perheiden monimuotoisuus selvitys- ja tutkimushanke (lakijaperhe.fi)