Analysing Families

<p>While the family and its role continues to be a key topic in social and government policy much of the literature is concerned with describing the dramatic changes that are taking place. By contrast <em>Analysing Families</em> directly addresses the social processes responsible for these changes - how social policy interacts with what families actually do. Topics covered include:<br>* the relationship between morality and rationality in the family context<br>* the variety of contemporary family forms<br>* the purposes and assumptions of government interventions in family life<br>* the relationship between different welfare states and different ideas about motherhood<br>* 'Third Way' thinking on families<br>* divorce and post-divorce arrangements<br>* lone parenthood and step-parenting<br>* the decision to have children<br>* the economic approach to understanding family process<br>* the legitimacy of state intervention in family life.<br>With contributions from the UK and North America <em>Analysing Families</em> provides the framework within which to understand an increasingly important element in social policy.</p>