Choices and Constraints in Family Life

Contents
List of Tables and Boxes
Preface and Acknowledgements
1. Variations in Family Life
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Defining Families
Historical Changes in Marriage and Families
Family Policies and the State
Gender, Class, Ethnicity, and Family Policies
Cultural and Historical Variations in Families
- Family Structure
- Authority and Lineage
- Marriage System
- Multiculturalism and Cultural Clashes
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggested Websites
2. Theorizing and Researching Family Life
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Social Structure Shapes Family Patterns
Interpersonal Factors Shape Family Life
Ideas, Global Culture, and Public Discourse Influence Family Life
Theoretical Framework Used in This Book
Methods of Family Research
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggested Websites
3. Forming Intimate Relationships
Learning Objectives
Introduction
The Social Regulation of Sexuality and Courtship
- Dating and Sexuality in the Past
- Early Patterns of Courtship and Engagement
Current Dating and Sexual Practices
- Dating Abuse
- Remaining Single
- Finding Partners: Advertising versus Tradition
The Transition from Dating to Cohabitation
Rising Rates of Cohabitation
The Social and Policy Implications of Increased Cohabitation
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggessted Websites
4. Formalizing Relationships
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Negotiating the Transition from Cohabitation to Marriage
Who Marries Whom?
The Rise in Same-Sex Marriage
Legal Marriage Rates
Cultural Practices in Marriage
- Preferred Marriage Partners and the Exchange of Gifts
- Residence, Relations with Kin, and Surnames
Western Weddings and Marriage Practices
Marriage Quality
Male Violence against Female Partners
Barriers to Legal Marriage
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggested Websites
5. Child-bearing, Child-rearing, and Childhood
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Parenting and Childhood in the Past
Fertility Patterns
Why Have Children?
Assisted Conception and Surrogacy
Pregnancy and Maternity Practices
Child-rearing Practices
- Socialization and Gender Roles
- Research on Fathering
- Same-Sex Parenting
- Parenting Challenges and Children's Well-Being
The Extension of Adolescence
Child Welfare Issues
State Support for Child-rearing
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggested Websites
6. Household Work and Money
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Cohabitation, Marriage, and Housework
- Early Studies of Household Work
- Current Studies on Houshold Work
- Household Work, Paid Work, and Stress
Household Money and Wealth Accumulation
Changing Labour Markets
Gender and Work
- Employment and Parenthood
Dealing with "Child Poverty"
Parental Leave and Child-Care Subsidies
Conclusion: The Growing Impact of Paid Work on Family Life
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggested Websites
7. Separation, Divorce, and Re-partnering
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Why Are So Many Couples Separating?
Outcomes of Separation and Divorce
Family and Divorce Laws
- Marriage, Gender, and Property
- Reforms in Child Custody and Residence Patterns
- Reforms in Child-Support Assessment and Enforcement
Children, Separation, and Divorce
Remarriage and Stepfamilies
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggested Websites
8. Mid-life, Aging, and Retirement
Learning Objectives
Introduction
The Changing Meaning of Aging
Life Expectancy, the Life Cycle, and Aging
Mid-Life: Is It a Time of Security or Crisis?
Life Satisfaction and Marriage Stability
Grandparenting and Widowhood
Retirement Income and Pensions
Becoming Frail or Disabled
Does Aging Make People More Conservative?
Conclusion
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggested Websites
9. Constraints on Personal Choices
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Predicting Future Family Patterns
- Will People Still Get Married?
- Will People Still Have Children?
- How Will Couples Combine Earning and Caring?
- Will Couples Stay Together?
- Will Aging Be a Problem?
The Future of Family Studies
Questions for Critical Thought
Questions for Debate
Suggested Readings
Suggested Website
Glossary
References
Index

Test Bank
20-30 multiple choice questions
20-30 true-or-false questions
10-20 short answer questions
3-5 essay questions
E-Book (ISBN 9780199005383)
Available through Coursesmart.com

Maureen Baker is professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. From 1984 to 1990, she worked as a senior researcher for Canada's Parliament, specializing in social policy issues relating to families and women. From 1990 to 1997, she was an associate professor and professor at McGill University. Since January 1998, she has lived and worked in New Zealand. In 2008, she was made a fellow of the New Zealand Academy of the Humanities. In 2009, she was made a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Canadian Families Today - Edited by David Cheal and Patrizia Albanese
Family Patterns, Gender Relations - Bonnie Fox
Making Sense in the Social Sciences - Margot Northey, Lorne Tepperman and Patrizia Albanese

Special Features

• Balance of historical and contemporary coverage provides students with a solid foundation of the evolution of the discipline.
• Interdisciplinary approach explores emerging patterns based on the latest research in sociology, psychology, anthropology, and social history, making this a wide-ranging, balanced overview of family life.
• Covers a broad range of issues affecting family life including child-rearing, aging, marriage, and divorce, giving students a well-rounded perspective on the topic.
• Concise introduction to the subject-part of the well-regarded Themes in Canadian Sociology series, known for its clear and concise approach to current research and trends in the discipline.
• International examples offer students a global context and help them evaluate the many issues surrounding families in western countries such as Canada, Australia, and Great Britain.

New to this Edition

• New chapter on sociological theory, devoted to the range of perspectives used to study the family, provides students with a solid grounding in theory.
• Expanded coverage of key issues, including the history of Canadian families, parenting, and family violence.
• Debate questions at the end of each chapter pose provocative questions to encourage class discussion.
• Up-to-date statistics, references, and examples offer students the most current and relevant information available.