Understanding Families

Professor Linda McKie is Head of School for Applied Social Sciences (SASS) at Durham University. Dr Samantha Callan is recognised as a research and policy expert in the fields of family relationships, mental health and the early years. She is currently Associate Director for Families and Mental Health at the Centre for Social Justice, for whom she has chaired four major social policy reviews. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at Edinburgh University's Centre for Research in Families and Relationships (CRFR).

Introduction Structures, Processes and Strategies Family or Families? Families in History The Families We Live With, The Families We Live By The Contents of the Book Summary Explore Further PART ONE: INTRODUCING FAMILIES Families and Relationships Introduction Families: A Constant State of Flux Continuities and Presumptions Structures: Identifying and Talking About Families Defining Families 1: Common Characteristics Defining Families 2: Values, Memories and Spaces and Places Statistical Trends and Family Structures Processes: Families, Kinship and Activities Global Families Topic 1. The Impact of Welfare Regimes on Families: France, the Russian Federation, East and West Germany Topic 2: Ideal and Actual Families in Asia Summary Explore Further Explaining Families Introduction Sociological Explanations: Premise and Origins Ideology and Theory: What Is This Thing 'the Family'? Sociological Theory Ties that Bind: Making Sense of Structures Families as a Framework: Parsons Socialization: Merton Actors and Actions: Theories of Interaction Interactions: Goffman Structures and Practices: Giddens and Wallace Theories of Conflict The 'Lifeworld' of Families: Habermas Women, Men, Gender: Feminist Perspectives Feminist and Gender: Perspectives on Families Global Dimensions Contemporary Voices on Intimacy Summary Explore Further PART TWO: RESEARCH AND POLICY Researching Families Introduction Research Methods Survey Research Writing About People and Families: Ethnographic Research Methods Secondary Analysis of Research Studies Historical Research on Families Approaches to the History of the Family Better Times for Families? Documenting Change in Family Processes Family and Sex 1900-2000 Private Troubles and Public Issues Researching Change and Continuity Solo Living Talking About Sex Single Parenting Summary Explore Further Politics, Policies and Practices Introduction Definitions Policies and Families' Forms and Functions Family Policy - New Kid on the Block? How do Policies Deliver Benefits to Families? Policy Approaches to Different Family Forms Evidence-Based Policy Families in Action Families and Social Cohesion Families and Social Breakdown Beyond Stereotypes Families and the Welfare State The Relationship Between Politics and Policies Services and Practices Types of Services Summary Explore Further PART THREE: FAMILIES IN ACTION Relationships and Sexualities Introduction Lets Get Together: Marriage, Cohabitation Universality of Marriage and Partnering Definition of Partnering - How do People Partner? Diversity in Partnering Arrangements Cohabitation Same-Sex Couples and Families Children Raised by Same-Sex Couples Moving Apart: Breakdown and Divorce Why do Relationships Break Down? What Changes After Divorce and What Stays the Same? Being Together and Living Apart: Solo Living, Friendships and Social Networks 'Coupleness' Outside of Cohabitation Why else do people Live Alone? Beyond the Family - Friendships Social Networks Communities and Neighbourhoods The Effects of Neighbourhoods and Communities on Families Sexualized Societies Enduring Relationships: Generating Histories Enduring Intimacy Summary Explore Further Families and Work Introduction Defining and Explaining Work Underemployment and Unemployment Boundaries: Paid and Unpaid Work The Global Context Survival and Longevity: The Challenge to Work Decent Work and Rural Employment Relationships and Resources Acquiring and Allocating Resources Gender and Resources Unpaid Work Gender Roles and Unpaid Work Quantifying and Valuing Unpaid Work Vital but Subordinate Family Practices and Work Policy, Politics and Families Explaining Preferences and Choices Migrant Domestic Workers Summary Explore Further PART FOUR: CONCLUSIONS Families into the Future Introduction Trends and Futures Working Patterns, Gender and Care Demography: Fertility, Life Expectancy and Care Relationship Formation The Impact of Technologies on Families Commonalities and Differences across the Globe Beliefs and Behaviours Sustainable Families? The Importance of Childcare Shaping Politics and Policy Addressing Family Fragility Same-Sex Relationships and Assisted Reproduction Summary Explore Further Glossary

This excellent, innovative, comprehensive and easy to read text should be essential reading for everyone keen to understand families across the globe. It addresses key questions, carefully blends policy concerns, research issues and theoretical debates, points to further reading and includes a very helpful glossary. It will make an outstanding contribution to family studies and is highly recommended Janet Walker Emeritus Professor, Newcastle University This is a clearly written, well organized, and highly digestible overview of the sociology of the family. It covers major themes and issues, including important changes over time in behavior as well as the ideas used to understand patterns of behavior and structure. The authors manage to include a strong international perspective while highlighting many specific examples and trends in the UK and across Europe. What I appreciate so much about this book is that it is to the point and not overburdened by a tedious amount of detail or nuances of the type that can so easily mire and demoralize readers who are trying to capture the essential features in the study of the family. I highly recommend this book for serious students who want to efficiently capture the gist of this thing called family Scott M. Stanley Research Professor and Co Director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies, University of Denver, USA I don't know how often I've wished for an introductory text on family life which encompassed critical contemporary sociological thinking alongside the basic information students need, and have only found fossilised thinking on a stodgy subject. But now all that has changed. McKie and Callan have achieved what I thought was almost impossible in Understanding Families; this is a textbook which provides unrivalled foundations for a critical understanding of contemporary families and relationships Carol Smart Professor of Sociology, The Morgan Centre, University of Manchester