[Grandparenthood in the context of social inequality].

Abstract

Grandparenthood in general and caring for grandchildren in particular are fields that are very well-illuminated in gerontological terms. Grandchild care is regarded as active aging in sociopolitical terms and is idealized. Grandparents themselves also attach great normative importance to it. Differentiated gerontological findings relativize the positive connotations and clearly refer to welfare and policy regimes as well as life situations as contexts. From the reported studies the article derives the need to supplement the previous findings with further inductive research, particularly from the perspective of grandparents with a low socioeconomic status.