The Swiss who live in urban areas tend to have small families; one or two children are the norm. Multi-generational households are more common in rural areas. Although most Swiss continue to live as traditional families, the number of unmarried people living alone or in common-law relationships is growing. People marry relatively late; they concentrate on their training and career before they start a family. Swiss women are among the oldest in Europe at the birth of their first child. The majority of couples have only 1 or 2 children.
Surveys have shown that parents put financial difficulties as the main reason for restricting family size. Large flats are expensive, and there is a shortage of affordable child care.
As a result of longer life expectancies coupled with fewer births, there is now a greater percentage of older people in Swiss society. The number of people over the age of 65 has doubled over the last 50 years and the number of people over the age of 80 has quadrupled.
Nearly 70% of all Swiss live in urban areas. Some cities have a shortage of affordable housing. It is common for several young people to live together in the cities where costs are high. This is called a Wohngemeinschaft or WG.
Many women today are still not active in the labour market. Only one in three women works outside the home. Switzerland has been slower than other European countries to recognize women's rights. Women were not allowed to vote in elections until 1971.
However, as young women become more economically independent, they are becoming more politically active and are demanding more educational and professional opportunities.
Until 2005 Switzerland had no obligatory maternity benefit. As of July 1st 2005 working women receive 80% of their salary during their 14-week maternity leave. Previously only women lucky enough to work for a socially progressive enterprise continued to receive a salary even while they were on maternity leave (as a rule for no longer than four months), but no employer was bound by law to pay them.
Another problem facing women at work is the lack of child care facilities. Places in municipal crèches at prices which mothers/parents can afford are in short supply, and the prices at private crèches are beyond the reach of many people. However, employers have recently made moves towards becoming more family-friendly, since they realize they need to attract women into the workforce.
The Swiss take great pride in their homes and gardens. Many Swiss homes are adorned with window boxes of geraniums and other flowers. Their yards are fenced and look neat and orderly.
(Sources: http://www.swissworld.org, http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/switzerland/family.html)
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informed: * SWISS ADMINISTRATION
* SWISS GEMEINDEN
* SWISS CANTONS
* SWISS POLITICS
* THE SWISS CONFEDERATION
* LIVING IN SWITZERLAND
* FOREIGN EMBASSIES
* SWISS HISTORY
* SWISS HOSPITALS
* SWISS FAMILY LIFE
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* SWISSMOM
(German, about pregnancy)
* REGISTER OF DOCTORS
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* CHILDCARE SERVICE
* LILIPUT
(German childcare search engine )
* DAS SCHWEIZER KRIPPENPORTAL
* CITIES FOR CHILDREN
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