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Family diversity : continuity and change in the contemporary family / Pauline Irit Erera.

LIBRA HQ536 .E73 2002
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Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Erera, Pauline Irit.
Series:
Sage sourcebooks for the human services series ; v. 44.
Sage sourcebooks for the human services series ; v. 44
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Families--United States.
Families.
United States.
Family services--United States.
Family services.
Family policy--United States.
Family policy.
Physical Description:
xii, 268 pages ; 23 cm.
Place of Publication:
Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage, [2002]
Summary:
This nonjudgmental, inclusive, and far-reaching text focuses on the diverse patterns of family structure prevalent in our society today. Family Diversity presents empirical research on the internal dynamics, social environments, support factors, prevalence of discrimination, and common stereotypes that account for the issues surrounding current family relations. By examining the history and nature of foster and adoptive, single-parent, lesbian/gay, step- and grandparent family units, Pauline Irit Erera is able to challenge both the idealized family prototype and the hegemony of the traditional structure. CONTENTS: 1. What is a Family? / 2. Foster Families / 3. Adoptive Families / 4. Single-parent Families / 5. Stepfamilies / 6. Lesbian and Gay Families / 7. Grandparent-headed Families / 8. Unraveling the Family: What We Can Learn from Family Diversity. Sage Sourcebooks for the Human Services
Contents:
1. What Is a Family? 1
The Rise and Decline of the Traditional Family 3
The Family Values Agenda 9
The Hegemony of the Traditional Family 13
New Alternatives and Perspectives From Diverse Families 15
2. Foster Families 20
Prevalence and Demographic Characteristics of the Foster Family 21
Historical Background and the Social-Cultural Context 23
Legal and Policy Issues 27
Stigma and Stereotypes of the Foster Family 31
Family Structure 33
Family Dynamics 42
Implications for Child Development 46
Variations Among Foster Families 47
Implications for Policy 53
Implications for Practice 55
Implications for Research 56
3. Adoptive Families 59
Historical Background and the Social-Cultural Context 60
Prevalence and Demographic Characteristics of Adoptees and Adoptive Families 63
Legal and Policy Issues 65
Open and Closed Adoption 69
Transracial Adoption 71
International Adoptions 75
Family Structure 78
The Dynamics of the Adoptive Family 85
Implications for Children 91
Variations Within the Adoptive Family 92
4. Single-Parent Families 100
Prevalence and Demographic Characteristics of Single-Parent Families 101
Historical Background and Legal Issues 103
Social-Cultural Context and Policy Issues 105
Single-Parent Families and Poverty 109
Stereotypes and Discrimination Against Single-Parent Families 111
The Experience of Divorce: The Custodial Mother's Perspective 116
Implications for Children 119
Variations Among Single-Parent Families 124
5. Stepfamilies 135
Historical Background and the Social-Cultural Context 135
Prevalence and Demographic Characteristics of the Stepfamily 136
Legal and Policy Issues 137
Variations Among Stepfamilies 138
Family Structure 139
The Making of the Stepfamily 143
Family Dynamics 146
Implications for Child Development 153
6. Lesbian and Gay Families 160
Historical Background and the Social-Cultural Context 161
Legal and Policy Issues 163
Homophobia, Stereotypes, and Discrimination 166
Family Structure 168
Family Dynamics 172
Implications for Child Development 176
Variations Among Gay and Lesbian Families 178
7. Grandmother-Headed Families 183
Prevalence and Demographic Characteristics of the Grandmother-Headed Family 183
Historical Background and the Social-Cultural Context 184
Stigma 188
Caregiving: A Women's Issue 189
Family Structure and Dynamics 191
Implications for Grandchildren 196
Variations Among Grandmother-Headed Families 196
8. Unraveling the Family: What We Can Learn From Family Diversity 201
Family Diversity: The Advantages of Difference 202
Challenging the Hegemony of the Traditional Family 203
Family Diversity: Implications for Family Theory 210
A Framework for Understanding Families 217.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 220-255) and index.
ISBN:
0761912924
0761912932
OCLC:
46793154

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