Families in transition : : Social change, family formation and kin relationships / / Nickie Charles, Charlotte Davies, Chris withHarris.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Bristol University Press Backlist eBook-Package 2013-1995
• VerfasserIn: Charles, Nickie,; Davies, Charlotte,; withHarris, Chris,
• Place / Publishing House: Bristol : : Policy Press, , [2008]; ©2008
• Year of Publication: 2008
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (288 p.)

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.

Table of Contents

Front Matter -- Contents -- List of tables -- Preface and acknowledgements -- Understanding families and social change -- Changing societies -- Changing families -- Families and cultural identity -- Families in and out of work -- Caring families -- Dispersed kin -- Families, friends and communities -- What is the future for the family? -- Methodological problems in comparisons of class over time -- Swansea boundary changes -- Bibliography -- Index