Synopses & Reviews
This book addresses the complexity of family change. It draws on evidence from two linked studies, one carried out in the 1960s and the other in the early years of the 21st century, to analyse the specific ways in which family lives have changed and how they have been affected by the major structural and cultural changes of the second half of the twentieth century. The book shows that, while there has undeniably been change, there is a surprising degree of continuity in family practices. It casts doubt on claims that families have been subject to a process of dramatic change and provides an alternative account which is based on careful analysis of empirical data. The book presents a unique opportunity to chart the nature of social change in a particular locality over the last 50 years; includes discussions of social and cultural variations in family life, focusing on younger as well as older generations; explores not only what happens within family-households but also what happens within networks of kin across different households and shows the way changing patterns of employment affect kinship networks and how geographical mobility co-exists with the maintenance of strong kinship ties. The findings will be of interest to students of sociology, social anthropology, social policy, women's studies, gender studies and human geography at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Review
This fascinating contemporary revisitation of a classic study provides a rigorous corrective to glib assertions about social change in families and communities. The authors skillfully blend theoretical arguments and empirical evidence in an accessible and thought-provoking assessment of the nature of change and continuity. Rosalind Edwards, Professor in Social Policy, London South Bank University
Synopsis
This book addresses the complexity of family change. It draws on evidence from two linked studies one carried out in the 1960s and the other in the early years of this decade to analyze the specific ways in which family lives have changed and how they have been affected by the major structural and cultural changes of the second half of the 20th century. The book not only explores what happens within family households, but also what happens within networks of kin across different households. It examines the way changing patterns of employment can affect kinship networks and how geographical mobility co-exists with the maintenance of strong kinship ties. Families in Transition shows that while there have been undeniable changes, these changes have neither undermined family life, nor have they led to a large-scale transformation of family relations in the direction of greater equality. This fascinating contemporary revisitation of a classic study provides a rigorous corrective to glib
Synopsis
This book analyses the specific ways in which family lives have changed and how they have been affected by the major structural and cultural changes of the second half of the twentieth century.
About the Author
Nickie Charles, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Charlotte Davies, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Wales Swansea, with and Chris Harris, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Wales Swansea