Includes bibliographical referencs (pagesB1-B61)and glossary and index.

About the author -- Preface -- Chapter 1. A Sociology of the Family. Defining families ; The family in sociological theory ; Studying families ; Trend to watch : Big data ; Moving on -- Chapter 2. The Family in History. Early history ; Origins of the American family ; The modern family (1900-1960s) ; New family diversity (1960s-present) ; Trend to watch : Urban transformations -- Chapter 3. Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration. What are race and ethnicity? ; American stories ; Immigration ; Intermarriage ; Trend to watch : Undocumented immigration -- Chapter 4. Families and Social Class. Theories of social class ; The American class structure ; Social mobility and class persistence ; Trend to watch : The 1 percent -- Chapter 5. Gender. Sex and gender ; Perspectives on gender ; Gender socialization ; Gender at work ; Trend to watch : Women's educational advantage -- Chapter 6. Sexuality. Sociology and sexuality ; Sexual orientation ; The biology of human sexuality ; Sexual behavior ; Teen sex ; Sexuality and health ; Trend to watch : Pornography -- Chapter 7. Love and Romantic Relationships. Scripting diversity ; Love ; Relationships rituals ; Mate selection ; Trend to watch : Sex before relationships -- Chapter 8. Marriage and Cohabitation. Diversity, inequality, and social change ; Who gets married ; Who marries whom ; Cohabitation ; The modern married individual ; The benefits of marriage ; The politics of marriage ; Trend to watch : Cohabitation -- Chapter 9. Families and Children. Childbearing ; Adoption ; Why (not) have children? ; Children's living arrangements ; Parenting ; Trend to watch : Assisted reproductive technology -- Chapter 10. Divorce, Remarriage, and Blended Families. For the children's sake ; Church and state ; Divorce rates and trends ; Causes of divorce ; Consequences of divorce ; Remarriage and blended families ; Trend to watch : Gray divorce -- Chapter 11. Work and Families. Work in institutional arenas ; Housework and child care ; Conflicts and solutions ; Trend to watch : Local policy innovation -- Chapter 12. Family Violence and Abuse. Family violence : An institutional perspective ; What is family violence? ; Child abuse and neglect ; Elder abuse ; Intimate partner violence ; Sexual violence ; Violence in lesbian and gay relationships ; Declining violence ; Consequences of family violence ; Feminist perspectives ; Interventions ; Trend to watch : A less violent future? -- Chapter 13. The Future of the Family. Diversity ; Inequality ; Social change ; Responses to family change ; Conclusion ; Trend to watch : The limits of longevity -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Photo credits -- Index.