This text applies a sociological imagination to explore both the private, personal side of family life as well the public, institutional nature of "the Family." It shows that many family concerns are actually social issues that need to be addressed through sound social policies.   The author, Karen Seccombe, encourages students to think about families beyond their own personal experiences, and even beyond family structure in the United States. Her goal is to impart a passion for critical thinking as students see that families exist within social worlds.     Families and Their Social Worlds shows that our conceptions of families are imbedded within our social structure, and that families represent a set of rules, regulations and norms that are situated in a particular culture in a particular historical time.   Important policy considerations are imbedded in each chapter to illustrate what is currently being done, and perhaps even more importantly, what can be done to strengthen families and intimate relationships.

Table of Contents:
Part I:  Understanding Families in Their Social Context   Chapter 1:  Families and the Sociological Imagination What are Families? The Sociological Imagination              World Map 1.1: Comparative Infant Mortality Rates Families and Social Change The State and Family Policy Themes of This Book              Box 1.1: Using the Sociological Imagination: Ideology of "Family" Shapes Perceptions of Immigrant Children              Box 1.2: Our Global Community: Adolescence Among the Masai Selective Versus Universal Family Policy and Family Values Example:  Welfare Reform   Chapter 2:  Families Throughout the World: Marriage, Family, and Kinship Functions of the Family:  Variations and Universals Sources of Comparative Data            Variations in Marriage Patterns                  Box2.1: Our Global Community: Marriage among the !Kung San of Southern Africa                 World Map 2.1: Monogamy                 Box2.2: Using the Sociological Imagination: A Personal Ad From Adolph, Mary, and Megan Patterns of Power and Authority Patterns of Kinship, Descent, and Inheritance Patterns of Residence Modernization Theory:  Social Change and Families World Systems Theory: Social Change and Families Families Around the World   Chapter 3:   Families Throughout History Why Study Family History? Piecing Together the History of Family Life Families and Societies Families in Pre-Industrial Societies Family Life in Pre-Industrial United States                  American Families in the 19th Century                     Box 3.1: Social Policies for Families: The Nineteenth Amendment is Ratified Families in the 20th Century: The Rise of the "Modern" Family                 Box3.2: Family As Lived Experience: Coming of Age in the Depression Recent Family Issues and Their Historical Roots   Chapter 4: Sex, Gender, and Families Sex and Gender: What’s the Difference?                 Box 4.1: Using the Sociological Imagination: Transgendered Experience Leads Scientist to Critique Sex and Gender Differences Where Do We Learn Gender?                 Box4.2: Family As Lived Experience: The Thing About Thongs Class, Race and Ethnicity, and Gender                 Box4.3: Using the Sociological Imagination: Modernization and Changing Latino Conceptions of                 Gender The Pitfalls of Masculinity Institutional Sex Discrimination: Patriarchy Does Patriarchy Exist in Western Nations?                 Map 4.1: Eye on the World: Comparative Literacy Rates -- Literature Women as Percenage of Literate Men Worldwide Between 15-24 Years, 2000-2004 Implications for Families Social Policy and Family Resilience                 Chapter 5:  Social Stratification, Social Class, and Families Social Class and Family Relationships What is Social Stratification? Social Class in the United States                 Box 5.1: Using the Sociological Imagination: The Social Register, Class or Caste? Family Focus: How Class Matters: Health, Health Insurance, and Family Well-being Families in Poverty                 Box5.2: Social Policies for Families: Making Ends Meet on A Poverty Budget                 Map 5.1: Eye on the World: A Comparative Look at the Purchasing Power Parity, in U.S. Dollars (2004)                 Box5.3: Our Global Community: “Nalim” in Bhutan Family Resiliency Social Policy and Family Resilience   Chapter 6:  Race and Ethnic Variations in Families Increasing Diversity in the US Immigration Defining Basic Concepts                  Box6.1: Families As Lived Experience: Loving Across the Color Line: A White Adoptive                                 Mother Learns About Race                Map 6.1: Eye on the World: Comparative Ethnic and Racial Diversity  How Do Race and Ethnicity Influence Family and Close Relationships? Hispanic and Latino Families Black Families Asian American Families                Box 6.3: Our Global Community: One Child’s Very Special First Fourth of July Native American and Alaska Native Families Interracial and Interethnic Families Social Policy and Family Resilience   Part II:  Negotiating Family Relationships   Chapter 7:  Courtship, Intimacy, and Partnering Courtship and Mate Selection                 Box7.1: Using the Sociological Imagination: The Historical Relationship Between Love and Marriage Love Sexuality Sexual Scripts Sexually Transmitted Disease                 Box7.2: Family As Lived Experience: What is Genital Herpes? Heterosexual Cohabitation Gay and Lesbian Intimate Relationships Social Policy and Family Resilience   Chapter 8:  Marriage: A Personal Relationship and Social Institution The Universality of Marriage                 Box8.1: Our Global Community: Iraqi Marriages: "It's Safer to Marry a Cousin than a Stranger" The Changing Nature of Marriage                Box8.2: Social Policies for Families: Antimiscegenation Laws The Benefits of Marriage Marital Happiness, Satisfaction, and Success The Marriage Movement Social Policy and Family Resilience   Chapter 9: Becoming A Parent Population and Fertility Trends Worldwide                 Map 9.1: Eye on the World: Comparative Total Fertility Rates, 2005 Fertility Rates in the United States                 Box9.1: Using the Sociological Imagination: Having a Baby at 50 or 60                Box9.2: Families as Lived Experience: The “Costs” of Raising a Child The Social Construction Childbirth The Transition to Parenthood Social Policy and Family Resilience                Box9.3: Social Policies for Families: The Family Medical Leave Act   Chapter 10:  Raising Children Comparative Focus on Childhood and Parenting                 Box10.1: Our Global Community: Searching for Wages and Mothering From Afar: The Case  of  Honduran Transnational Families Socialization Parenting styles and practices                Box10.2: Families As Lived Experience: We Have Love Bouncing Off the Walls at Our House Parenting Contexts Social Policy and Family Resilience   Chapter 11: Families and the Work They Do The Changing Economy and Work Juggling Work and Family Life                Box11.1: Social Policies for Families: Fixing Social INsecurity The Division of Household Labor               Box11.2: Families As Lived Experience: “Mini-Moms” Created As Low-Income Families Search for Affordable Day Care. Childcare Social Policy and Family Resilience Chapter 12:  Aging Families Changing Demographics                Map12.1: Eye on the World: Comparative Aging -- Percent of Population over Age 65, 2000                Map12.2: Eye on the World: Comparative Aging -- Percent of Population over Age 65, 2030                Box12.1: Families as Lived Experience: Celebrating My Grandmother's Birthday Historical Perspectives Prevailing Theories of Aging The Economics of Aging                 Box12.2: Social Policies for Families: The Roots of Social Security The Aging Couple                               Relationships with Children and Grandchildren Grandparenthood                 Box12.3: Family As Lived Experience: What Is It Like to Be a Grandparent? Retirement Health Social Policy and Family Resilience     Part III:  Social Problems and Families   Chapter 13: Violence and Abuse Gender-Based Violence: An International Human Rights Issue How Americans Define and Measure Family                  Box 13.1: Our Global Community: May and Parvati: The End of a Dream Dating Violence Spouse/Partner Abuse                 Box 13.2: Social Policies for Families: History of the Battered Women’s Shelter Movement Child Abuse Elder Abuse Explanations for Violence and Abuse Among Intimates Social Policy and Family Resilience Chapter 14:  Divorce and Repartnering Measuring Divorce                          Cross Cultural Comparisons                 Map 14.1: Eye on the World: Comparative Divorce Rates Per 1,000 People                 Box14.1: Our Global Community: Japanese Divorce and Custody Law Historical Trends in the United States Factors Associated with Divorce The Dimensions of the Divorce Experience Sex Differences in the Divorce Experience Consequences of Divorce on Children Repartnering and Remarriage                 Box14.2: Family As Lived Experience: Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends Stepfamily Relationships Social Policy and Family Resilience   Part IV: What Have We Learned?   Chapter 15:  Summing It Up:  What Sociology Can Teach Us About Families The Sociological Imagination                 Map 15.1: Eye on the World: Adults and Children Estimated to be Living with HIV in 2006                 Box15.1: Our Global Community: HIV/AIDS: Girls Are Very Vulnerable Using the Sociological Imagination: Themes of the Text Revisited                Box 15.2: Using the Sociological Imagination: Managing the Stigma of Welfare Future Trends: Where Are Families Heading?