Family Transformation: The Case of the Textile and Clothing Industry Workers in Valencia

Abstract

The main goal of this article is to assess the infl uence of the
individualisation process on working-class family relationships. This is a
relevant analysis, bearing in mind the importance of the family in welfare
provision in Spain and the transformative capacity that the
individualisation process has had for the conception and management of
family bonds; however, the main theoretical work which has dealt with this
process to date has failed to address the working class. The in-depth
interviews conducted with workers from the textile and clothing industry
of the Valencian regions of l’Alcoià, Comtat and Vall d’Albaida led to the
conclusion that their concept of family and care responsibilities has been
infl uenced by individualisation, prioritizing individual satisfaction over
social rules and conventions. However, their practices still continue to
refl ect very traditional patterns, largely due to their fragile position in the
social structure.