Families
Celebration and Hope in a World of Change
Published on 1. September 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
176 pages
978-1-85675-041-7 (ISBN)
Description
The family stands in a crucial, central position. Of all society's institutions, it is the one that matters the most. An individual's entire life is affected by what the family manages to invest in that person, or indeed fails to provide. This book examines the diverse forms and functions of the family. The changes in its role and structure in today's world are explored, and positive initiatives to strengthen the family are highlighted. By looking at the relationships and responsibilities of its members - children, women, men, young and old, sick and disabled - the book presents an international perspective of the family as a unit and an interacting system. This reference should be a source of ideas for all interested in the future of the family and society. Dr Jo Boyden is the author of "Children of the Cities", and co-editor of "Field Director's Handbook".
The family stands in a crucial, central position. Of all society's institutions, it is the one that matters the most. An individual's entire life is affected by what the family manages to invest in that person, or indeed fails to provide. This book examines the diverse forms and functions of the family. The changes in its role and structure in today's world are explored, and positive initiatives to strengthen the family are highlighted. By looking at the relationships and responsibilities of its members - children, women, men, young and old, sick and disabled - the book presents an international perspective of the family as a unit and an interacting system. This reference should be a source of ideas for all interested in the future of the family and society. Dr Jo Boyden is the author of "Children of the Cities", and co-editor of "Field Director's Handbook".
The family stands in a crucial, central position. Of all society's institutions, it is the one that matters the most. An individual's entire life is affected by what the family manages to invest in that person, or indeed fails to provide. This book examines the diverse forms and functions of the family. The changes in its role and structure in today's world are explored, and positive initiatives to strengthen the family are highlighted. By looking at the relationships and responsibilities of its members - children, women, men, young and old, sick and disabled - the book presents an international perspective of the family as a unit and an interacting system. This reference should be a source of ideas for all interested in the future of the family and society. Dr Jo Boyden is the author of "Children of the Cities", and co-editor of "Field Director's Handbook".
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Octopus Publishing Group
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
12 colour maps, 70 photographs, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 288 mm
Width: 214 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-85675-041-7 (9781856750417)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Content
Part 1 The many roles of the family: creating the future - the life-giver, the teacher, the dynasty-maker; sustaining the family - the homemaker, the wealth generator, the inheritor; safeguarding the individual - the safety net, the great supporter. Part 2 A world of families: nuclear and extended families - nuclear families, extended families, polygamous families, urbanizing families; lone carers - single parents, women-headed households, child-headed families; new families - "hybrid" families, utopian alternatives, childless and "childfree", families of the future. Part 3 Family matters: men and women - marriage and partnership, women's work, men's work; women and mothers - women in the world, reproductive choice; men and fathers - the absent father, the caregiving father; parenthood - parents' lives, why have children?, boys and girls; the young - child survival, child development, children at work, youth and adolescence, children's rights; the troubled family - divided families, the dark side of the family, danger in the home; the aged - grandparents to grandchildren, the ageing population, the wealth of experience; disabled people - ability, not disability. Part 4 Hostages to fortune: families and the state - rise of the state, a question of rights; for richer, for poorer - poverty and the family, debt and recession, housing and homelessness, environmental decline; the fractured family - casualites of war, soldiers outnumber doctors, dispossessed families, alcohol and drugs, HIV, AIDS and families; planning the human family - the population issue, family planning, abortion, the science of reproduction. Part 5 Meeting the challenge: in partnership with families - safeguarding the future, sharing responsibility, strength in change; empowering families - families first, family-friendly work, helping families; healthy families - empowering the vulnerable, a voice to the silent, the family resource; epilogue - guiding principles of the family.