Tackling issues relevant to family life today, this authoritativeCompanion shows why studying social change in families isfundamental for understanding the transformations in individual andsocial life, across the globe.* Contains original essays by expert contributors on a wide rangeof topics relating to the sociology of families.* Includes coverage of social inequality, parenting practices,children's work, the changing patterns of citizenship, andmulti-cultural families.* Gives special attention to European and North Americanexamples.* Discusses previously neglected groups, including immigrantfamilies and gays and lesbians.* Explores how revolutionary changes in aging, longevity, andsexual behavior have radically affected the experience of differentgenerations, and the relationships between them.

List of Contributors.Preface: (Jacqueline Scott, Judith Treas, and MartinRichards).Part I: Families in a Global World:.1. Globalization and Western Bias in Family Sociology: DonEdgar.2. Changing European Families: Trends and Issues: Kath Kiernan(University of York).3. Recent Demographic Trends in the US and Implications forWell-Being: Sinikka Elliott and Debra Umberson (University ofTexas).4. Children, Families, States, and Changing Citizenship: HilaryLand (University of Bristol).5. Families and Local Communities: Graham Crow (University ofSouthampton) and Catherine Maclean.Part II: Life Course Perspectives on the Family:.6. Generations, the Life Course, and Family Change: J. BethMabry, Roseann Giarrusso, and Vern L. Bengtson (all University ofSouthern California).7. Children's Families: Jacqueline Scott (University ofCambridge).8. Aging and the Life Course: Chris Phillipson and Graham Allan(both Keele University).9. Parenting Practices: Duane F. Alwin (Pennsylvania StateUniversity).10. Time, Through the Life Course, in the Family: JonathanGershuny (University of Essex).Part III: Inequality and Diversity:.11. Inequality and the Family: Philip N. Cohen (University ofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill) and Danielle MacCartney (WebsterUniversity).12. Families of the Poor: Robert Walker and Claire Collins (bothNottingham University).13. Social Capital and the Family: Frank F. Furstenberg andSarah B. Kaplan (both University of Pennsylvania).14. Family, the State, and Health Care: Changing Roles in theNew Century: Ronald J. Angel and Jacqueline L. Angel (bothUniversity of Texas at Austin).15. Immigrant Families in the US: Karen Pyke (University ofCalifornia, Riverside).16. Immigrant Families in the UK: Alison Shaw (University ofOxford).Part IV: Changing Family Forms and Relationships:.17. Religion, Romantic Love, and the Family: Bryan S. Turner(National University of Singapore).18. Trends in Formation and Dissolution of Couples: Joanne J.Paetsch, Nicholas M. Bala, Lorne D. Bertrand, and Lisa Glennon (allUniversity of Calgary).19. Children, Families, and Divorce: Jan Pryor (VictoriaUniversity of Wellington) and Liz Trinder (NewcastleUniversity).20. The Lesbian and Gay Family: Jeffrey Weeks, Brian Heaphy, andCatherine Donovan (all Southbank University).21. Couples and Their Networks: Eric Widmer (University ofGeneva).22. Men in Families and Households: David H.J. Morgan(University of Manchester).Part V: Changing Social Contexts:.23. Sex and Family: Changes and Challenges: Judith Treas(University of California, Irvine).24. Feminism and the Family: Michelle Budig (University ofMassachusetts).25. Work and Families: Shirley Dex (University of London).26. Public Policy and Families: Wendy Sigle-Rushton andCatherine Kenney (both Princeton University).27. Assisted Reproduction, Genetic Technologies, and FamilyLife: Martin Richards (University of Cambridge).28. Families in a Runaway World: Ulrich Beck (University ofMunich) and Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim (University of Erlangen).Bibliography.Index