The Custody Wars: Why Children Are Losing The Legal Battle, And What We Can Do About It
Mason (law, Univ. of California, Berkeley) looks at how custody issues are settled and how the needs of children are often ignored. One child is quoted as saying that he was unsure to whom he belonged, and the idea of children treated as property instead of as people with feelings permeates the book. Mason reviews the legal, sociological, and psychological literature to provide extensive examples of how the courts deal with issues relating to children as well as technology and the use of frozen eggs and donated sperm. She also discusses single-sex couples and stepparents. This is fascinating reading that may encourage people to reconsider how children are handled in divorce cases. Mason suggests many alternatives, all of which include letting the child's voice be heard throughout the divorce process. The book is loaded with endnotes and resources for additional reading. Collections with a focus on children's issues, law, family studies, and sociology will want this one.?Danna C. Bell-Russel, Library of CongressCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.