Fifteen contributions address the nature and composition of the family from the perspective of family studies and sociology. Chapters address theoretical and historical approaches to the family; family members' perceptions of family including family as a set of dyads and the post-divorce family; and family support systems, including definitions of

As the world heads into the twenty-first century, individuals and their families are being confronted with a more diverse array of possible life experiences than has ever existed before. Changes in longevity, marriage, fertility, employment, and many other areas have created new opportunities for individual and family choice and variability in life course experiences. American Families and the Future discusses a variety of issues that face and will continue to families in coming years and describes various strategies families can use in their decisionmaking processes.

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Explore the breakdown of the universal family form into new living arrangements and the political and social implications of how they influence the definition of family today Concepts and Definitions of Family for the 21st Century views families from a US perspective and from many different cultures and societies. You will examine the family as it has evolved from the 1950s traditional family to today s family structures. The controversial question, "What is family?" is thoroughly examined as it has become an increasingly important social policy concern because of the recent change in the...