On the Art of Differentiating: Proletarianization and Illegitimacy in Northern Sweden, 1850–1930

• Published in: Social Science History
• Main Author: Marks, Hans
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1994
• Subjects: Social Sciences (miscellaneous); History; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0145553200021477; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0145553200021477

Recapturing people's experiences as part of understanding specific social and cultural processes leads us to the art of differentiating. We need to ask by whom, when, and why certain developments are defined. All historical sources bring knowledge, often in absolute and definite terms. But sometimes sources depart from the dominant societal discourse. How is one to evaluate the explanatory value of the different sources of interpretation placed hierarchically? This article takes on the evaluation of different discourses surrounding the process defined by historical demography as “rising illegitimate fertility.” Although it will imply a reevaluation of proletarianization processes as well, the central focus will be on illegitimacy.