Jennifer Van Hook

Susan M. McHale

Valarie King

This timely reference takes a rigorous look at the myriad ways technology, from smartphones to dating apps to social media, is affecting family life and opening new areas for study. The book features cross-disciplinary perspectives on current trends in the role of technology in couple and family contexts. It focuses on the roles of parents in monitoring children’s screen time, of technology in relationship formation, and of technology in changing family dynamics. Nuanced coverage considers the emerging conflicts and paradoxes associated with digital family life—closeness versus isolation, children versus parents as experts, and privacy versus surveillance. Contributors also identify new research opportunities as family roles and structures continue to evolve and technology becomes a greater lens for family studies. Among the topics covered: How parents manage young children’s mobile media use Adolescents as the family technology innovators Online dating: changing intimacy one swipe at a time Technology in relational systems: roles, rules, and boundaries Television “effects” on international family change Interplay between families and technology: future investigations Families and Technology is a valuable resource for researchers and students in the fields of family studies, sociology, marriage and family therapy, social welfare, public health, and psychology. The book also appeals to policymakers and human services personnel dedicated to better understanding the impact of rapidly spreading technologies on families around the globe.

Families and Technology

Linda M. Burton

Dorian Burton

This important volume takes a life course approach in sharing empirical insights on the family experiences of African American males in socioeconomic and political contexts. Representing fields ranging from developmental psychology to public health and sociology to education, chapters identify challenges facing black men and boys in the U.S., as well as family and community sources of support and resilience. Survey findings and exemplar case studies illustrate stressors and risk factors uniquely affecting African American communities, and tailored prevention and intervention strategies are described at the personal, family, and societal levels. These interdisciplinary perspectives not only encourage additional research, but inspire the continued development of appropriate interventions, relevant practice, and equitable policy. Included in the coverage: • The adjustment and development of African American males: Conceptual frameworks and emerging research opportunities. • A trauma-informed approach to affirming the humanity of African American boys and supporting healthy transitions to manhood. • Humanizing developmental science to promote positive development of young men of color. • Families, prisoner reentry, and reintegration. • Safe spaces for vulnerability: New perspectives on African Americans who struggle to be good fathers. • They can’t breathe: Why neighborhoods matter for the health of African American men and boys. Promoting diversity in the research agenda to reflect a diverse population, Boys and Men in African American Families is an invaluable reference for research professionals particularly interested in sociology, public policy, anthropology, urban and rural studies, and African American studies. Survey and ethnographic studies of poverty, inequality, family processes, and child, adolescent, and adult health and development are featured.

Boys and Men in African American Families

Alan Booth

Paul R. Amato

The widening gap between the rich and the poor is turning the American dream into an impossibility for many, particularly children and families. And as the children of low-income families grow to adulthood, they have less access to opportunities and resources than their higher-income peers--and increasing odds of repeating the experiences of their parents. Families in an Era of Increasing Inequality probes the complex relations between social inequality and child development and examines possibilities for disrupting these ongoing patterns. Experts across the social sciences track trends in marriage, divorce, employment, and family structure across socioeconomic strata in the U.S. and other developed countries. These family data give readers a deeper understanding of how social class shapes children's paths to adulthood and how those paths continue to diverge over time and into future generations. In addition, contributors critique current policies and programs that have been created to reduce disparities and offer suggestions for more effective alternatives. Among the topics covered: Inequality begins at home: the role of parenting in the diverging destinies of rich and poor children. Inequality begins outside the home: putting parental educational investments into context. How class and family structure impact the transition to adulthood. Dealing with the consequences of changes in family composition. Dynamic models of poverty-related adversity and child outcomes. The diverging destinies of children and what it means for children's lives. As new initiatives are sought to improve the lives of families and children in the short and long term, Families in an Era of Increasing Inequality is a key resource for researchers and practitioners in family studies, social work, health, education, sociology, demography, and psychology.

Jennifer Van Hook

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