Our own perspective on the family has developed and changed during this period. We have studied demograhpy and history, and we have come to pay more attention to social structure in our analysis. In recent editions and in response to our reciewers, we have given more attention to the contributions of psychology, to the understanding of family interaction and its consequences, and to the analysis of gender. We have recognized the growing interest in biosocial perspectives. We have highlighted the family ecology perspective in keeping with the importance of social context and public policy.
And we cannot help but be aware of the cultural and political tensions surrounding the family today.
We continue to affirm the power of families to direct the courses of their lives. But the American social milien seems less unqualifiedly optimistic today than it did when we began this book. Consequently, we now give more attention to policies needed to provide support for today's families: working parents, families in poverty, single-parent families, families of varied racial/ethnic backgroounds, remarried families, same-sex couples, and other nontraditional families-as well as the classic nuclear family with one employed parent (not an easy choice today). Virtually all families need social policy support.
Part 1 A New Look at Familiar Worlds
Part 2 Individuals and Relationships
Part 3 Defining Your Marriage and Family
Part 4 Experiencing Family Commitment
Part 5 Family Change, Crises, and Resilience