Analysing Families - Paperback / softback

While the family and its role continues to be a key topic in social and government policy, much of the literature is concerned with describing the dramatic changes that are taking place. By contrast, Analysing Familiesdirectly addresses the social processes responsible for these changes - how social policy interacts with what families actually do. Topics covered include* the relationship between morality and rationality in the family contex* the variety of contemporary family form* the purposes and assumptions of government interventions in family lif* the relationship between different welfare states and different ideas about motherhoo* 'Third Way' thinking on familie* divorce and post-divorce arrangement* lone parenthood and step-parentin* the decision to have childre* the economic approach to understanding family proces* the legitimacy of state intervention in family lifeWith contributions from the UK, and North America, Analysing Familiesprovides the framework within which to understand an increasingly important element in social policy.