1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«Even though there has been much research on the ties between grandparents and their grandchildren and the exchanges and services between generations in families, particularly the female lines, little attention has been paid to the role and functions of grandmothers in the family, and still less to their role in intergenerational transmission. Yet, from a sociological standpoint, this is an important question because through their experience and knowledge of family history and wide range of other experiences, these women are in their own way the ‘transmitters’ of family memory.» (p. 46) L’étude vise donc à combler le manque de connaissance quant au rôle des femmes âgées dans la structure familiale.

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Do older women have the impression they are transmitting or have transmitted something to succeeding generations? If so, what do they believe they are transmitting or have transmitted to their children and grandchildren? What legacies do they think it is important to leave for the next generation? How do they want to be remembered? These are the questions we want to answer in this article, following a brief description of the theoretical and methodological aspects of our study.» (p. 46)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
La présente étude est basée sur la participation de «25 francophone Quebecers. Aged between 65 and 98 […].» (p. 48)

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«Our research reveals the multiple and varied forms of transmission between older women and their children and grandchildren. These women and grandmothers play an important role within the family, often acting as the pole around which the family comes together and the perpetuator of family traditions. The act of transmission is not, however, a way to better integrate children into society, but rather, a way to help them take their place within society. In other words, these women are concerned less about conforming to social standards than about enabling children to define their own futures. Furthermore, their role appears to be more one of offering subsequent generations’ personal guidelines, references, values, and symbolic resources than of passing on objects or economic capital. The intergenerational transmission of values essentially involves practices that are often implicit, forming a backdrop to daily life.» (p. 59-60)