Synopses & Reviews
A familiar, yet contentious topic, the subject of family can present difficulties in the classroom, on levels ranging from personal to political and social. Understanding Family Meanings attacks this dilemma head-on, focusing on family meanings in diverse contexts to enhance our understanding of everyday social lives. Ranging over such issues as power, inequality, and values, this instructive text serves as an ideal introduction to family studies as it explores the shifting and subtle ways individuals, researchers, policymakers, and professionals make sense of the idea of family.
Review
“Understanding Family Meanings inspires the reader to reflect on the fluid and dynamic nature of contemporary families. It is an important new contribution to the literature as it highlights the multiplicity of meanings associated with families depending on context.”
Review
“A compelling and accessible book, Understanding Family Meanings combines conceptual sophistication with intriguing examples and helpful exercises. Highly recommended, it will be of interest to undergraduate sociology and family studies students in general.”
Synopsis
Family Studies is a key area of policy, professional and personal debate. Perhaps precisely because of this, teaching texts have struggled with how to approach this area, which is both 'familiar' and also contentious and value laden. This innovative and reflective book deals with such dilemmas head-on, through its focus on family meanings in diverse contexts in order to enhance our understanding of everyday social lives and professional practices. Drawing on extracts and research by leading authors in the field of family studies, Understanding Family Meanings provides the reader with an overview of the basic concepts and theories related to families using readings with questions and analysis to encourage reflection and learning. Published in association with The Open University, the book centralises the question what is 'family' and focuses on family meanings as the key underpinnings for academic study and professional training. It explores the shifting and subtle ways in which individuals, researchers, policy-makers and professionals make sense of the idea of 'family' and in doing so considers issues of power, inequality and values which are integral to any understanding of family meanings. Audio discussions with leading authorities in the field are also available online to enhance the content and key concepts of the book. It therefore provides an excellent foundation for any module in family studies, as well as all professional training modules that include attention to families and close relationships, and for further learning in the area of families and relationships.
Synopsis
Understanding Family Meanings provides an overview of the basic concepts and theories related to families using readings with questions and analysis to encourage reflection and learning. It focuses on family meanings as the key underpinnings for academic study and professional training.
About the Author
Jane Ribbens McCarthy is reader in family studies at the Centre for Citizenship, Identities, and Governance at the Open University.
Megan Doolittle is a senior lecturer in social policy at the Open University.
Shelley Day Sclater is a freelance writer.
Table of Contents
1. Why family meanings?
Jane Ribbens McCarthy
Part 1: Research
Introduction to Part 1
Jane Ribbens McCarthy
2. Family meanings in contemporary contexts
Jane Ribbens McCarthy
3. Teasing threads apart
Jane Ribbens McCarthy
4. Understanding 'family' and household through quantitative evidence
Megan Doolittle
Part 2: Theories and concepts
Introduction to Part 2
Shelley Day Sclater
5. Family discourses and family practices
Shelley Day Sclater
6. Intimacy and personal life
Shelley Day Sclater
Part 3: Contexts
Introduction to Part 3
Jane Ribbens McCarthy
7. Family meanings across time and place
Jane Ribbens McCarthy and Megan Doolittle
8. Family meanings in social policies and professional practices
Megan Doolittle
Conclusions
9. Family meanings, family values
Shelley Day Sclater, Megan Doolittle and Jane Ribbens McCarthy
Acknowledgements