European Network for the Sociological and Demographic Study of Divorce

Professor Brienna Perelli-Harris was invited to present one of the keynote addresses at the 18th Meeting of the " European Network for the Sociological and Demographic Study of Divorce ." Although the conference was supposed to be in Cologne, Germany, it was held online 14-16 October 2020.

The European Divorce Network (EUDIV) brings together scholars who work empirically on divorce and separation. It was founded against the background of increasing divorce rates in Europe, the emerging research on divorce in Europe, the many possibilities to compare between European states, and the growing interest of policy makers and the broader public for the sociological aspects of divorce. The network aims to provide an interdisciplinary and approachable platform where knowledge and research about relationship dissolution and its causes and consequences can be shared and discussed.

Perelli-Harris presented a talk entitled, “Comparing Separation and Divorce across countries: Perks and Pitfalls.” She pointed out how partnership formation and dissolution has become more complex, including informal cohabiting relationships and separation. She discussed what we can learn by comparing across countries, but also the issues inherent in cross-national research. The presentation covered tips on using international data, an overview of legal differences in marriage and cohabitation across countries, and recommendations for future research.