Public and Private Families: An Introduction
by By Cherlin, Andrew J.
Category: Social Science , Sociology , Marriage & Family

In this text for undergraduate students of sociology Cherlin (public policy and sociology, Johns Hopkins U.) discusses the social dynamics of the "private family"--comprising two or more people in a longstanding emotionally intimate relationship--and the "public family"--consisting of the commitment that adults make to society at large (e.g. to provide for the children and the elderly). Coverage includes historical and contemporary contexts;  gender, class, and race-ethnicity; sexuality, partnership, and marriage; links across the generations; and conflict, disruption, and reconstitution. While the majority of material speaks to American trends, families in many international societies are discussed throughout the text. Updates in this fifth edition include new coverage of topics including the Mexican-American family, same-sex marriage, Hurricane Katrina's relationship to poverty and family, and the financing of Social Security and Medicaid. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)