UMD School of Public Policy Professor Douglas Besharov co-edited and contributed to a new book, "The Oxford Handbook of Family Policy Over The Life Course." This volume presents a multidisciplinary perspective on family policies from marriage and cohabitation; to child birth, child care and parenting; to family breakdown and divorce; to intergenerational support. The book includes contributions from over sixty experts worldwide and examines how family policies affect people's roles, relationships, rights and responsibilities at different stages of life, taking into account social inequalities, such as gender differences.
"Over the past five decades, the economic, demographic and cultural changes experienced in advanced industrial societies have disrupted traditional family patterns," explains Besharov. "As a result, many welfare states in Western Europe, East Asia and the U.S. have extended social rights and services to support families. This book explores the impact of these changes on the composition and structure of families, as well as their relationship with family-oriented social policies."
At just over 1,000 pages, this book is divided into two parts. The first part offers an introduction to modern family policies, discussing theories and politics related to policy development. The second part covers how families change over time, and includes topics such as cohabitation, marriage, starting a family, parenting, child care, employment, family breakdown and intergenerational support.
Providing a detailed view of family policies and their effects on families throughout different stages of life, this book serves as a thorough resource for policymakers, academics and anyone interested in family policy development and reform.
