Family relations are undergoing dramatic changes globally and locally. At the same time, certain features of family life endure. This popular book, now in a fully updated second edition, presents a comprehensive assessment of recent research on 'family', parenting, childhood and interpersonal ties.A Sociology of Family Life queries assumptions about a disintegration of 'the family' by revealing a remarkable persistence of commitment and reciprocity across cultures, within new as well as traditional family forms. Yet, while new kinds of intimate relationships such as 'friends as family' and LGBTQ+ intimacies become commonplace, such personal relationships can still be difficult to negotiate in the face of wider structural norms. With a focus on factors such as class, gender, race, ethnicity and sexuality, this new edition highlights inequalities that influence and curb families and personal life transnationally. Alongside substantial new material on cultural and digital transformations, the book features extensive updates on issues ranging from demography, migration, ageing and government policies to reproductive technologies, employment and care.With a global focus, and blending theory with real-life examples, this insightful and engaging book will remain indispensable to students across the social sciences.

Introduction1. Traditional Approaches to the Family2. Individualization, Intimacy and Family Life3. Parenting Practices and Values4. The Changing Nature of Childhood5. Families and Ageing Societies6. Globalization, Migration and Intimate Relations7. Families, Fertility and Populations8. Families and New Reproductive Technologies9. New Directions: The Politics of Family, Intimacy and Personal Life