The repertoire of equality: political views on family in Chile

Abstract

A series of recent social and cultural transformations have put a strong strain on more conventional definitions of the family life. Consequently, an important arena of political disputes currently revolves around the question of what we understand by family, as well as its place and value in society. The objective of this article is to explore contemporary political controversies surrounding the family in Chile. For this purpose, an analysis of the discourses linked to different “think tanks”, which play an important role in public debates in Chile today and are related to different ideological affiliations, is carried out. Through in-depth interviews with members of these centres, are explored their views on what the family is, its place and meaning today,  identifying their assessments of recent changes and their points of view in dispute. The conclusions highlight the various ways in which political discourses adapt to or react to family transformations, particularly in relation to expectations of equality and autonomy in family life.