This bestselling title has been extensively revised and updated to provide an accurate statistical portrait of the American family as it exists today. Data collected from federal and state government agencies, Gallup polls, professional journals, and research are presented in a single, easily accessible format. Nearly 350 graphs, charts, and figures are provided. The second edition reflects the changing demographics of the American family. Among the issues receiving new or expanded coverage are the amount of time husbands spend doing household tasks, the concept of equal pay for equal work, parents' interaction with children, child abuse, household income, and fathers' participation in child care.

As the shift in the racial and ethnic composition of the united States continues, students, researchers, and others will find it important to understand the differences between--and similarities among--racial groups. This volume compiles a broad range of statistical data on important topics across various racial groups. Gathered from authoritative sources, this information offers statistical comparisons on timely subjects, including: educational goals, attitudes about employment, leisure pursuits, marital happiness, attitudes about contraception, religious beliefs, arrest rates, and political party preferences.

Those promoting economic development in the Third World often disregard the disadvantaged position of women or lack adequate information to assess the role of women. This book seeks to remedy that situation by providing a detailed examination of patterns and determinants of female labor force participation in three developing countries: Thailand, Colombia, and Egypt. The analysis is based on detailed interviews with women about factors such as migration patterns, the employment situation, household conditions, and other relevant socioeconomic activities. The result is a comprehensive explanation of female economic behavior in developing countries that forms the basis for a broader understanding of women's economic conditions across culture.

For each country studied, the authors focus on women's employment in the capital city. Combining the economic model of household time allocation and the sociological life course perspective, they document the influence of social origins, early work experience, and household conditions on women's labor force participation. Their findings provide valuable new information concerning the status and conditions of women who join the labor force: the resources available to them and constraints on participation; the relationships between household and female employment; and the influence of education on current economic behavior. Based on their research, the authors then propose and discuss various policies which might serve to improve female economic status in developing countries.

Technological innovation, the globalization of exchange, greater marital instability, and new environmental and health challenges are reshaping the world in which we live. This edited volume analyzes current and projected future socioeconomic trends in the context of New York State, a state that has historically played an important role in public policy innovation. The contributors identify major trends, compare New York State to the United States as a whole, and indicate the need for new social policy at the local, state, and federal levels. Among the issues discussed are the distribution of income, trends in land use, recent immigrants, and family living arrangements.

As the first complete portrait of U.S. adolescents, this resource provides information long needed by researchers working in this critical field of study. The handbook includes a wide variety of information about American adolescents, aged 12 to 21, who must deal with societal and cultural pressures unique to their generation. The extensive collection of data contained in this definitive resource will give readers the information they need to accurately assess the status of adolescents in America today.

"Edited by two well-known family researchers at Brigham Young University, this meticulously researched compendium is a trove of useful information on areas where poverty and family issues intersect. This volume should be the first stop for anyone beginning research on poverty and families." -CHOICE The Handbook of Families and Poverty covers hotly debated issues associated with public policy and funded research as they relate to families and poverty. Contributors, bringing multiple perspectives to bear, aim to show alternatives to welfare in subgroups facing specific challenges that are currently not adequately addressed by the welfare system. Readers will appreciate the insightful summaries of research involving poverty and its relationship to couple, marital, and family dynamics. Key Features: Provides a comprehensive view of the issues surrounding families and poverty so that readers may benefit from the findings and insights of their peers in other relevant fields, with the hope that better understanding will bring better solutions. Includes several chapters on application/intervention and theoretical issues Contains writings by contributing authors who are respected experts from a broad range of disciplines and perspectives, including business; child development; family studies; psychology; public policy; social work; and sociology.