生命歷程、個體化及風險：社會政策的回應

Life-course, Individualization and Risk: The Social Policy Responses

在反身性現代化過程中，社會結構的改變及個體化將會影響個人生命歷程規劃，這將會激化原有的社會風險，亦帶來一些新的風險；舊有傳統社會福利制度的安排未必能充份回應新社會風險帶來的挑戰。本文以香港為例，運用個體化的概念從個人生命歷程規劃的角度進行調查，以瞭解個體化的情況，描述個人生命歷程規劃的格局，及分析各人口變項及個體化與生命歷程的關係。調查推論有三個群體會在生命歷程中面對較高潛在風險：（一）推遲生命歷程的高教育男性；（二）選擇較標準的生命歷程任務規劃的女性；及（三）追尋另類生命歷程年輕的人士。本文認為個體化及日益多元化的生命歷程任務規劃是不可避免的，社會政策要回應多元化及另類的選擇，需要經常檢討對生命歷程階段的規劃及角色的規範，增加彈性，在有必要時重塑規範並提供資源支援，使個人能在生命階段內有效地完成他們的角色與任務，以及理順生命歷程階段之間的轉接。風險責任亦需由政府、不同部門以及個人分擔。

Theorists have argued that processes of reflexive modernization, structural changes and individualization will impact on individuals' life course plans. These new life course plans may aggravate previous social risks and engender new social risks. Conventional social welfare arrangements have been challenged as inadequate to cope with the new social risks. A cross-sectional survey conducted in Hong Kong was employed to examine the concept of individualization and life course changes. Three groups that might face with potentially higher social risks were identified: males with higher educational attainment tend to postpone their life course plans; females who opt for a conventional life course plan; and the younger generation who aspire for alternative life courses. Findings revealed that increasingly diverse life course patterns are unavoidable. Social policy needs to be more flexible in responding to these choices, and to review institutionalized life course structures as well as the norms modelled. Whenever necessary, policies have to be responsive and accommodative in providing resources to support individuals to deliver their roles within specific life course stages, as well as to smooth the transition between stages. The risk burden has to be shared by the government and various social sectors, as well as individuals themselves.