Nationally recognized for its sound scholarship and balanced approach, and written by one of the leading authorities in the field, Public and Private Families, 2/e examines the family through two lenses, the familiar private family in which we live most of our personal lives, and the public family in which we, as adults, deal with broader societal issues such as the care of the elderly, the increase in divorce, and childbearing outside of marriage. Consequently the book looks at both intimate personal concerns, such as whether to marry, and societal concerns, such as governmental policies that affect families.

Product Description: In spite of the upset children experience after parental separation, Furstenberg and Cherlin find that most children adapt successfully as long as their mother does reasonably well financially and psychologically, and as long as conflict between parents is low...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Examines social trends in marriage and divorce, suggests reasons for rising divorce rates, and studies the differences in marital patterns in Black and white families

Product Description: Two leading sociologists of the family examine the changing role of American grandparents--how they strive for both independence and family ties.

Product Description: Married women and mothers working outside the home, divorce, and single-parent households have become part of American society for a variety of economic and cultural reasons, and government policy is unlikely to alter these features...read more