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Sociologist Riitta Jallinoja´s latest book shows how the past is always with us. Decency intertwines with liberalism, longing for freedom mixes with commitment. This coexistence of the new and old inspires her, as a researcher who seeks a comprehensive vision.
The traditional and the modern in our daily lives
Arja Tuusvuori
Riitta Jallinoja's progress towards her current work in sociological research has been fairly straightforward. The interest in society she developed during her school years was consolidated during her studies at the Faculty of Political Science in the sixties. A series of lectures given by the influential scholar, Professor Erik Allardt, on the structure of society and social pressure was particularly memorable. This theoretical review of social structures regularly drew large audiences at the University, and was one of the outstanding events of the time. Allardt, who was often quoted by President Kekkonen, became a "sociologist of the nation" as it were, and the whole discipline was widely used to interpret social change. Docent Jallinoja has never regretted having chosen a career in science, although the public status of the discipline has slightly changed since."I have always thought the Department of Sociology an excellent work environment, I have certainly felt at home there. It is nice to have colleagues around you with whom you can talk about sociology and sometimes other things as well," Jallinoja says.
She is not, however, blind to the drawbacks in her work. On the whole, reading, writing and cogitating alone in one's office is lonely work. But then again, loneliness is such a natural part of the work that it often goes unnoticed.
"And I'm in no way a lonely person, even though I work alone. My days also include chats with colleagues and teaching talented young people."
Science vs. the art of life
In today's world, science is by no means the only answer to fundamental questions. The role of laymen has grown with media publicity: different gurus and commentators offer their own advice to the public. The university does not have uncontested prestige, it has rivals in the business world, research institutes and opinion polls. This ambivalent state of affairs intrigues the sociologist."The university cannot have a monopoly on knowledge," Jallinoja asserts. "Perhaps we live in a state of bafflement, as it were. The clear-cut demarcation between various institutions, which has been characteristic of modern society, has disappeared. A field like this, where several actors operate simultaneously, forces the university to cope and encourages it to offer its best know-how. Yet this kind of competitive situation is always stressful, and not necessarily beneficial to the research community."
The public role of sociology has been partly taken over by philosophy and macroeconomics. Especially in the early nineties, when the recession took Finns by surprise, people wanted reassurance from experts on the economy and on what to think.
"It's not that sociologists are no longer asked to interpret social change, but they now comment more on change relating to private life. I take this to reflect the rise of private matters in media publicity." Jallinoja estimates that private life has gained prominence because it is one of the few aspects of life people feel they can influence themselves. Managing one's own life seems all the more important as the opportunities to influence within institutions and larger structures are relatively few. Discussing one's private life in public reflects not only a general democratisation trend, but also modern individualism. The focus is on the human being behind all his or her roles.
Victorian modern times
It is more and more common for people in the public eye to be "openly frank" about their marriages, family lives and free time. The fact that Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen's new family has been presented in women's magazines may have polished his public image more than any political campaign could. On the other hand, Opposition Leader Esko Aho does not like to pose for the weeklies cuddling his new baby and pronouncing solemn words about the importance of home and family. Family idylls are a de facto part of political campaigns, even though we are still a far cry from the American model - otherwise the Prime Minister's wedding would have been shown live on TV for all the nation to see."Even if job hierarchies lift public figures above us, reading about their private lives makes them one of us," Riitta Jallinoja explains. In studying Finns' ideas of morality on the basis of interviews in the press, Jallinoja was intrigued how the modern and the traditional intertwine. The individual is contending with countless conflicts. Freedom, commitment, daring and decency live, if not in harmony, at least in interaction. Jallinoja's study is called Moderni säädyllisyys. Aviosuhteen vapaudet ja sidokset (Modern decency. Freedom and ties in marriage).
"When I started, I had no particular view of decency; the topic simply emerged and took on a central role during the course of my research. Isn't this research at its best, when everything doesn't go as planned?" Jallinoja asks. "My original object of research was the relationship between freedom and commitment in marriage. In today's society, marriage is subject to the pressures of both these opposing themes: most people long for freedom, but submit to enchanting ties! Decency as a form of morality is, however, still strong, and people do not talk directly about adultery as long as the marriage holds together. After a divorce, accusations and counter-accusations are no longer considered strange. But few people go as far as to talk about their infidelity in the press."
"Decency, which we have inherited from the Victorian era, is interestingly integrated into our liberalised society. Many aspects relating to sexuality are kept hidden and belong to the sphere of decent talk. Their open discussion is not desirable - except in the yellow press, which deliberately tests the bounds of decency."
The scandal press takes care of matters in the media, like gossip does in private life. In coffee rooms people whisper about matters no one would like to mention aloud. Jallinoja sees nothing odd in secrecy, embellishment and rejection. Openness still has its limits, even in celebrities' "in-depth" interviews.
The difficulty of life management
Sociology often studies change. Jallinoja stresses, however, the importance of still surviving historical elements in diversifying the picture. Old traits carry over from the past even in major social changes, and this should be taken into account in scientific analysis."Decency as part of morality has not been studied in Finland up to now. In international sociology it is associated only with the Victorian period. When contemporary times are studied, the point of view is usually the decline of morality. In this way, researchers have turned a blind eye to the force of tradition. I think it is an illusion to see our time only from the perspective of change," Jallinoja underlines.
Riitta Jallinoja's recent research aroused interest at the World Congress of Sociology and will probably be translated into other languages in the near future. The comments made by international sociologists who study the family have been enthusiastic and encouraging. Jallinoja has earlier studied the impact of the family, job and emotions on the individual's life. Her studies of children's day-care, the family and the woman's status have been inspired by her personal interest.
"None of my research objects have been determined by a project. I have been lucky enough to have been able to realise my own thoughts and ideas. Generally one interesting subject has led to another, and each one has indicated the direction for the next one. But it's difficult for me to study only one thing, such as the family, at a time. I think versatility is one of my main characteristics," says Jallinoja.
Future research objects may also relate to modernisation phenomena. What intrigues Riitta Jallinoja is the unfinished nature of modernisation. The marriage between things traditional and modern will probably receive other interpretations in addition to the study on morality she has already published. The relationship between mass society and the individual attracts Jallinoja as an uncharted area.
"On the one hand, we become more individual, on the other, we become more of a mass. In a way there's another possible object for research here: the difficulty of managing one's own life. As individuals we like to give the impression that we are in control of our lives, but in reality life is very difficult to control."
She adds with a laugh that she is in opposition to those modern-day gurus who preach about mastering one's own life. What interests Jallinoja in the modern world is the very difficulty of life, and the reasons for this.
Young researchers exploited
Jallinoja has worked at the University since the late sixties. Except for six years spent as an Academy of Finland fellow, she has been faithful to the Department of Sociology. She does not admit to any major adversities or crises."At one time I did think that there must be something else I could do and became interested in politics - not that I had begun to think the University was a boring or difficult place. The change would have been great, although I've always been interested in politics. It came to nothing, however, and maybe it's for the best." In combining family life and a career, Jallinoja feels she has not had to compromise. When her daughters were small, she consciously dedicated evenings and weekends to the children. Her doctoral dissertation on the years of combat in the Finnish women's movement came out in 1983. Jallinoja was 40 when she gained her doctorate, which is probably close to the average in Finnish sociology.
"I gave time for my family, because I think it only right to be with one's children when they are small. I have no regrets in that respect. For me it was no sacrifice, but a natural choice. Later on, I've had time to toil away at night and during weekends."
She in fact doubts that it is right to expect over forty years of full work input. Working like fury may be all right for a time, but as a constant requirement it smothers creativity. A vacation or a break gives one an opportunity to rest, read and stimulate thinking.
"The ability to generate ideas and innovations suffers if one must constantly dash from one meeting to another. The methods used in different disciplines differ. At least for humanists and social scientists it is worth putting your feet up sometimes and simply having a good think. This may look like being lazy, but in fact you may be breaking the ground for new ideas." Riitta Jallinoja feels concern for young researchers. The demand that everyone write their doctoral dissertation and create a career at the youngest possible age is not necessarily compatible with their life situation and everyday life. Some want to found a family at a younger age and embark on a research career only after they have some experience of life. For Jallinoja, the important thing is a good research plan, not the researcher's age.
"Of course there are some limits to it, but it is tragic if you are considered too old to start a research career at 30. Some people mature more slowly than others. A research career in the social sciences demands an enormous amount of work. Just reading the literature for a dissertation takes four or five years, let alone analysing it and thinking about it," Jallinoja says.
She finds it strange that the university community stresses plurality in some respects and completely ignores it in others. It seems that plurality and the individual characteristics of disciplines are given space only in solemn speeches, not in science administration.
"I'm against the exploitation of young people and policies which do so! The Academy of Finland has made its research grant policy more stringent, and so has the university. This trend does not take research in the right direction. Naturally there is cause for satisfaction as well. Sociology has not lost any of its popularity as a subject, and there is no shortage of talented applicants. It is true that communication studies will continue to be the carrot at the Faculty; participation in the media society is important for young people." Riitta Jallinoja has reason to be pleased with the career choices made by her children: her elder daughter is a researcher at the Department of Sociology, and the younger one is studying to be an architect like her father. The parents' professions have proved attractive to the younger generation.