Families in multicultural perspective
By: edited by Bron B. Ingoldsby, Suzanna Smith.
Contributors: Ingoldsby, Bron B.; Smith, Suzanna D.
Series: Perspectives on marriage and the family
Publisher: Guilford Press
Published: 1995
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 432
Subjects: Family -- Cross-cultural studies; Kinship -- Cross-cultural studies; Marriage customs and rites -- Cross-cultural studies; Sex role -- Cross-cultural studies; Home economics -- Cross-cultural studies; Multiculturalism
Description: Crossing geographic, cultural, and historical boundaries, this volume explores the diversity of the world's families, emphasizing the importance of understanding and valuing them within their own cultural contexts. Covering contemporary Third World as well as Western families, this excellent teaching text addresses topics essential for developing a multicultural perspective.

The book begins with background information on family theories and comparative research methodology, along with an overview of the history of the family and gender relations in the Western world.

This is followed by chapters on family variation, which explain research on the origin, functions, and universality of the family; kinship terminology and how kinship affiliation affects such issues as postmarital residence patterns; and the diversity of marital structure (plurality of husbands and/or wives) and how culture and economy affect these patterns.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Family theory and multicultural family studies / Suzanna Smith. What is family? -- What is family theory? -- Structure and function -- Systems theories -- Individualism and interaction -- Difference and diversity -- Implications for multicultural family studies -- Notes -- References -- The family in western history / Bron B. Ingoldsby. The Hebrews -- The Greeks -- The Romans -- Early Christianity -- The Middle Ages -- The Renaissance -- Colonial America -- The modern North American family -- Conclusion -- References -- Comparative research methodology / Gary R. Lee. Types of comparative research -- Issues in comparative research methodology -- Conclusion -- Note -- References -- Family origin and universality / Bron B. Ingoldsby. Family definitions -- Family functions -- Family origin -- Family universality -- The family redefined -- Conclusion -- References -- Patterns of kinship and residence / Max E. Stanton. Basic kinship affiliation -- Types of families -- Rules of descent and authority -- Types of postmarital residence -- Cousin relationships -- Kinship terminology : the six basic types -- Conclusion -- References -- Marital structure / Bron B. Ingoldsby. Polygyny -- Polyandry and polygynandry -- Cenogamy -- Conclusion -- References -- Mate selection and marriage / Bron B. Ingoldsby. Mate selection procedures -- Wedding customs -- Marital adjustment -- Conclusion -- References -- Parents’ socialization of children -- D. Terri Heath. Components of parenting styles : control, support, and power -- Cross-cultural research examples : parenting styles -- Parental class influences -- The benefits of close parent-youth relationships in adolescence -- Conclusion -- References -- Divorce : a comparative perspective / Patrick C. McKenry and Sharon J. Price. North America -- Europe -- Latin America -- Asia -- Africa -- Conclusion -- References -- Chinese families in later life / William H. Meredith and Douglas A. Abbott. The traditional Chinese family -- The communist revolution and the family -- The elderly in the Chinese family today -- References -- Women and households in the third world / Suzanna Smith. The apartheid of gender -- Roots of the apartheid of gender -- Contemporary capitalism and third world women and families -- The world of women -- Empowering women -- Notes -- References -- Household division of labor in industrial societies / Linda L. Haas. How the household division of labor became gender based -- Cross-national variations in the household division of labor -- Why some societies are more egalitarian than others -- Future trends -- References -- Gender relations and marital power / Jack O. Balswick and Judith K. Balswick. Defining types of marital power -- Marital power in cultural and historical context -- Models of marital power and the feminist perspective -- The emergent worldwide recognition of violence against women -- The empowerment model : a radical alternative -- Conclusion -- References -- Looking back, looking forward : African American families in sociohistorical perspective / Norma J. Burgess. Looking back -- Looking forward -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Poverty and patriarchy in Latin America / Bron B. Ingoldsby. Familism -- Machismo -- Street children -- Family violence -- Conclusion -- References -- Public policy and poverty : a framework for analysis / Rosalie Huisinga Norem and Suzanna Smith. What is poverty and who is affected? -- Public policy, poverty, and households -- A policy analysis example -- Conclusion -- Note -- References -- Student exercise bank -- Exercise guidelines for the instructor -- Appendix.