This book addresses the complexity of family change. It draws on evidence from two linked studies, one carried out in the 1960s and the other in the early years of the 21st century, to analyse the specific ways in which family lives have changed and how they have been affected by the major structural and cultural changes of the second half of the twentieth century.The book shows that while there has undeniably been change, these changes have neither undermined family life, nor have they led to a large-scale transformation of family relations in the direction of greater equality. The book: presents a unique opportunity to chart the nature of social change in a particular locality over the last 50 years; includes discussions of social and cultural variations in family life, focusing on younger as well as older generations; explores not only what happens within family-households but also what happens within networks of kin across different households; and, explores the way changing patterns of employment affect kinship networks and how geographical mobility co-exists with the maintenance of strong kinship ties. The findings will be of interest to students of sociology, social anthropology, social policy, women's studies, gender studies and human geography at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

"This collection examines human-animal relations and the different ways in which they can be understood, exploring animal rights and animal welfare; whether and under what circumstances animals are regarded as social actors with agency; media representations of human-animal relations; and the relation between animals and national identity"--

"Gender, Ethnicity and Political Ideologies" presents a broad range of international case studies such as inter-ethnic conflict in Yugoslavia, the emergence of a "male democracy" in Chile, the lack of equal rights for women in Israel, the role of women in the French far right's ideology and the sense of empowerment that Islam gives to many young Muslim women in Britain. Also included is an analysis of nationalist ideologies that can divide women from each other and define their role in reproductive terms.
This is a challenging study that asserts the importance of a feminist politics which enables women to understand and work with each other across the boundaries that so effectively divide them. It will be essential reading for those in search of a rigorous analysis of the role and significance of women in a rapidly changing political landscape.

There have been a number of political issues that involve religious fundamentalism, inter-ethnic conflict and the process of democratization. In this study the authors develop a feminist perspective on these issues and reveal the way that political ideologies use women as symbols of cultural perspective. Topics for discussion include: Yugoslavia; the emergence of a "male democracy" in Chile; women's rights in Israel; the far right and women in France; and the experience of immigrants in Britain. This study of women's involvement with restrictive political ideologies aims to demonstrate the importance of a feminist politics that enables women to understand and work with each other across the boundaries that divide them.

In this book, contributors drawn from a range of backgrounds in anthropology, sociology and social psychology explore different ways of practising feminism and their effect on gendered identities. The contributors examine: feminism and gender differences between different countries; various diverse feminist practices; the call for recognition of heterosexuality as a politicized identity; the practical role of feminism in nationalist struggles; and methodological implications of feminist practices. They show women to be different, and that different structural influences come into play to make them different. But women are not so different that a feminist politics is invalid. the text should be a useful contribution to the middle-ground between post-modern deconstructions of difference and identity, and continued feminist concern with grounded power relations and the validity of experience.

In this book, contributors drawn from a range of backgrounds in anthropology, sociology and social psychology explore different ways of practising feminism and their effect on gendered identities. The contributors examine: feminism and gender differences between different countries; various diverse feminist practices; the call for recognition of heterosexuality as a politicized identity; the practical role of feminism in nationalist struggles; and methodological implications of feminist practices. They show women to be different, and that different structural influences come into play to make them different. But women are not so different that a feminist politics is invalid. the text should be a useful contribution to the middle-ground between post-modern deconstructions of difference and identity, and continued feminist concern with grounded power relations and the validity of experience.

This book addresses the complexity of family change. It draws on evidence from two linked studies, one carried out in the 1960s and the other in the early years of the 21st century, to analyse the specific ways in which family lives have changed and how they have been affected by the major structural and cultural changes of the second half of the twentieth century. The book shows that, while there has undeniably been change, there is a surprising degree of continuity in family practices. It casts doubt on claims that families have been subject to a process of dramatic change and provides an alternative account which is based on careful analysis of empirical data. The book presents a unique opportunity to chart the nature of social change in a particular locality over the last 50 years; includes discussions of social and cultural variations in family life, focusing on younger as well as older generations; explores not only what happens within family-households but also what happens within networks of kin across different households and shows the way changing patterns of employment affect kinship networks and how geographical mobility co-exists with the maintenance of strong kinship ties. The findings will be of interest to students of sociology, social anthropology, social policy, women's studies, gender studies and human geography at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

This collection examines human-animal relations and the different ways in which they can be understood, exploring animal rights and animal welfare; whether and under what circumstances animals are regarded as social actors with agency; media representations of human-animal relations; and the relation between animals and national identity.

This book explores changing gender relations in Britain since the Second World War and the way these changes have been studied and explained within sociology. It discusses paid employment, domestic labour, parenting, education, the 'crisis' of masculinity, sexuality, and politics, mapping the way gender intersects with other dimensions of inequality such as class and ethnicity.

The fourth edition of this classic, comprehensive and best-selling text on gender and women's studies marks over twenty years of engaging with the key issues and developments in gender and feminist theory. With fully revised chapters written by specialists across a range of core topics, including sexuality, work, the media, race, education, family, bodies, masculinity, methodologies, social movements and politics, this accessible but academically rigorous collection breaks down contemporary debates with helpful examples and questions, whilst also underlining the complexities and contradictions of this area of study. In particular, this new edition: * continues to reflect the shift from 'women's studies' to 'gender studies', incorporating masculinity studies throughout; * features new chapters on violence and the environment, reflecting continuing and more recent feminist concerns; * includes expanded discussion of intersectionality, international and transnational issues. Coinciding with an upsurge in new forms of feminist politics, this timely publication confirms the continuing relevance of gender and women's studies. It remains an indispensable resource for students, academics and anyone interested in this lively field.

This book assesses how policies developed by the National Assembly for Wales are affecting gender inequalities and investigates whether they are having an impact on social justice for women in Wales. In 1999 the first elections to devolved governments took place in Scotland and Wales. In Wales this resulted in 40 per cent of Assembly Members being women. In 2003 this proportion increased to 50 per cent which makes the National Assembly for Wales 'the first legislative body with equal numbers of men and women in the world' ("The Guardian", 3/5/03). This new gender balance of political representatives is a significant change in the gendering of political institutions and this, together with the creation of a new tier of government, has the potential to create new opportunities for the development of social policies which address gender and other social inequalities. Focusing on distinct policy domains, this book explores gender politics in a devolved Wales. Each chapter investigates a particular aspect of social policy, exploring the way it has developed since devolution and the extent to which considerations of gender and social justice for women are central to this development. The empirical chapters which form the core of the book are situated theoretically and politically by the first chapter which discusses how gender and social justice can be theorised and explores devolution and its relation to gender politics in Wales.