Explores both the public and the private family, providing a balanced portrait of contemporary family life as students consider aspects of intimate relationships and public policy issues affecting families.
Examines the historical and cross-cultural diversity of families, in particular in the "Families in Other Cultures" boxed essays, which pique students' interest and broaden the scope of their understanding.
Addresses current political debates in "Families and Public Policy" boxed essays.
Explains how family sociologists go about their research in boxed essays titled "How Do Sociologists Know What They Know?"
Features several distinctive chapters: Chapter 14, "The Family, the State and Social Policy," Chapter 9, "Children and Parents," and Chapter 10, "The Elderly and Their Families." These chapters examine issues of great current interest, such as income assistance to poor families, the effects of out-of-home childcare, and the costs of the Social Security and Medicare programs.
Offers the opportunity to learn more online through "Families on the Internet" sections that refer students to websites with relevant information.
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2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education