Most fathers parent less than most mothers. Those fathers who do parent equally or more so than mothers are poorly supported by our society. For children this means a loss of adult care, as well as an ongoing and sharply defined differentiation between fathers and mothers. Fathers are not present in children's lives to a significant degree, if at all, or when they are present, they are often rendered socially invisible. For many men, their parenthood is defined as biological or economic, while a minority of men struggle against the presumption that they are not caregivers. In Redefining Fatherhood, Nancy Dowd argues that this skewed social pattern is mirrored and supported by law. Dowd makes the case for reenvisioning fatherhood away from genes and dollars, and toward nurture. Integrating economic, social and legal aspects of fathering, she makes the case for focusing on social, nurturing behavior as the core meaning of fatherhood. In this nuanced and complex analysis, she explores the barriers to redefinition, including concepts of masculinity, the interconnections between fathers and mothers, male violence and homophobia. Redefining Fatherhood offers a progressive view on how men, and society at large, can change understandings and practices of fatherhood.

Includes subject area sections that describe all pertinent census data products available, i.e. "Business--trade and services", "Geography", "Transportation," etc.

Using vivid quotations from her interviews with an array of couples, Deutsch tells the story of couples who share parenting equally and some who don't.

This book is intended for for use in upper level undergraduate and graduate courses in social work with the family, social work with the elderly and social work with children.

This book is concerned with the relationships and tensions in education between children's needs and societies' demands, questions which primary teachers everywhere face on a daily basis, such as: * how does society's view of children and childhood affect teaching and learning? * how do the dictates of the education system, including a national curriculum, shape teaching practice? * how do the conventions of classroom practice fit with teachers' own beliefs and values? The first part of the book offers a basic framework for thinking about primary curricula from the perspectives raised by these questions, whilst the second part presents a range of international views on the primary curriculum from Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia, Europe and the USA.

Beneath the surface of public-policy concerns that seem temporary are powerful evolutionary forces with long-term effects. One of the most important of these is the profound demographic change taking place in America-change which has extraordinary social and economic consequences, and far-reaching public-policy implications for the future of the nation. James W. Hughes and Joseph J. Seneca have assembled experts on demography, immigration, policy, and family life to explain and document both changes and prospects for changes. Contributors profile the contours of demographic change in America and identify select public-policy challenges arising from this change. They cover a wide range of demographic shifts-"baby booms" and "baby busts," rising immigration, increasing ethnic and racial diversity, the proliferation of different household configurations, economic upward mobility that stems from the information-age rather than the industrial economy, and suburban and sunbelt gains.

In a 2004 study by the Annie E. Casey, Ford, and Rockefeller Foundations it was reported that a large number of American families are currently faring poorly in their struggle to provide for themselves. Low-income and poor families were found to contain one-third of all of the children in American working families. Low-wage jobs without benefits mean that families at or below the poverty line live a precarious existence. This four-volume set is designed to reveal, explicate, analyze, and assess the effects of an inadequate income on children. Each volume contains original essays written by an interdisciplinary roster of contributors. The first volume, Children and the State addresses policy and legislation that affect low-income families. One issue that is considered in this volume is the lack of a national housing policy in the United States. The second volume, Health and Medical Issues includes discussions on the status of Medicaid, the lack of mental health services available for low-income families, and the difficult-to-access healthcare for the rural poor. Volume three, Families and Children explores the effects of welfare reform, especially the issue of childcare and the increased work expectations of parents. Other compelling topics in this volume include low-income families and the Family and Medical Leave Act, poor children and the internet, and the increase in economic insecurity among low-income families who increasingly live on credit. In the final volume, The Promise of Education, universal pre-kindergarten, Head Start, and the education of immigrant children are all explored.

Winner of the New England Sociological Association Sociologist of the Year (2008) Life in contemporary American society requires that children spend considerable time in the care of "other people." These people include teachers, coaches, babysitters, camp counselors, ministers, neighbors, friends, and extended family. While most people who work with children do a good job, some caregivers fail to adequately care for kids, while others actually put them in harm's way. Parents may assume that caregivers of all kinds are uniformly evaluated and "approved," but this is not always the case. American society, despite a superficial rhetoric of concern for children, has not instituted strong national, state, or local safety nets to protect them. And because there is no comprehensive commitment to ensure child safety, there is no systematic, or even partial, oversight of adults charged with their care. As a result, parents are put in the difficult position of deciding whether caregivers of all kinds are sufficiently skilled and responsible to look after children. How to Keep Your Children Safe is essential reading for any parent concerned about child safety. It takes a hard look at the hidden side of children's lives--the times when they're in contact with caregivers who aren't doing their jobs properly. It provides detailed information on places where children are under the care of others, including day care, recreational settings, religious and civic organizations, schools, and summer camps.Vissing investigates the potential perils of each setting and enumerates ways in which parents can better monitor, or take control of, their child's safety. By writing a realistic assessment of commonplace settings that every parent and child can relate to, and offering a road map to child safety,Vissing empowers parents to make critical decisions about their children's lives.

Presents an overview of the well-being of America's children. It is a product of collaborative efforts by 18 Federal agencies. Readers will find here an accessible compendium -- drawn from the most recent, most reliable official statistics -- to both the promises and the difficulties confronting our Nation's young people. Includes: population and family characteristics; economic security indicators; health indicators; behavior and social environment indicators; education indicators; blood lead levels; and child care. Appendices: detailed tables, and sources and limitations of data. Dozens of charts and tables.