Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints (5th Edition) [Hardcover]

Nijole V. Benokraitis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131305166 | ISBN-13: 978-0131305168 | Publication Date: March 8, 2004 | Edition: 5

Exceptionally comprehensive, innately interesting, and extremely readable, this best-seller introduces readers to the study of contemporary marriages and families in ways to which they can easily relate. It examines the diversity of American families—giving equal attention to all racial, ethnic, and other societal groups—and examines not only the choices, but the constraints that often limit our family-related choices today. This open-minded approach, combined with a set of practical guidelines presented in each chapter, encourages learners to think and act for themselves—and thereby join the effort to resolve some of the crucial issues confronting 21st century families. A six-part organization places marriage and the family in perspective, looks at the individual and developing relationships, as well as the individual and marital commitments, considers parents and children, explores conflicts and crises, and offers an understanding of changes and transitions. For those interested in a complete and current study of marital and family relationships in America.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Widely adopted in its first edition, this textbook introduces students to the study of marriage and the family in ways that they can easily relate to. In a straightforward and balanced manner, giving equal attention to people of all racial, ethnic, and other societal groups, the author shows students that as families continue to change, they have more and more choices, but that those choices are also subject to often serious constraints on both the macro and micro level. The author's open–minded approach encourages students to think for themselves, and practical guidelines in every chapter encourage them to go beyond thought to action--to become part of the effort to resolve some of the crucial issues that confront all twenty–first–century families. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Continue your studies online with the Marriages and Families Companion Website^™.
www.prenhall.com/benokraitis

Prentice Hall's exclusive Companion Website^™ that accompanies Marriages and Families, 4/E, offers unique tools and support that make it easy for you to integrate this online study guide with the textbook. The site is a comprehensive resource organized according to the chapters in the text and features a variety of learning modules:

• Interactive Study Guide contains chapter outlines, chapter quizzes, relevant web links, census updates, and surveys to help you define your goals.
• ContentSelect research database, available around the clock from your computer using a special passcode, offers you access to hundreds of academic journal articles and magazines that are directly related to the disciplines of sociology and family studies.
• Reference Modules contain hundreds of web links and a Net Search feature that provides the opportunity to access information on the Web that relates to the content of the text.
• Communication Modules include Live Chat and Message Boards to facilitate online collaboration and communication.
• Personalization Modules include our enhanced Help feature that contains a text page for browsers and plug-ins.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (March 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131305166
• ISBN-13: 978-0131305168
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an eye opener!, December 8, 1999

By 

Linda C. Jennings "ennui50" (Chicago, ILLINOIS USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints (Hardcover)

When discerning the human social condition, I always refer to this text; when conversing with family and friends about the construct of what drives humans to make relationship choices, I refer them to this text. If I have read this text ten years ago I would have not have gotten married. Knowledge is EMPOWERMENT...the information in this text will knock your socks off! From what theories drive human interaction, to learning gender roles and sterotypes, the perpetuators of gender sterotyping. We still choose who to marry by how we look, as opposed to intrinsic factors of humanness. Poverty? this book identifies why we need it and who benefits from it. Women and Children?....the most vulnarable population...is it governmental priority?....not hardly! Global male dominance?...alive,well, and thriving! This text should be required reading on every college prep and university campus.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most comprehensive book on contemporary families, January 18, 2005

By 

Karen Colvin "Kaycee" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints (5th Edition) (Hardcover)

This is far more than a textbook. Filled with fascinating history and trends, this is a literary cornucopia on marriage, children, gender roles, dating, sexuality, and much more. Although written by a reknowned sociologist, the information can be equally utilized in a college class or by an individual, who is seeking current empowering information. Benokraitis provides a multitude of data on the changes in the structure of marriage and families, the choices that social groups are offered, as well as the constraints that place limits on many families in contemporary society. The book poses questions, offers insights, and summarizes critical concepts on the roles of the evolving family.
I will be utilizing this text to teach a Sociology course on Marriage & Family. It is filled with exercises, simple graphs, personal anecdotes, and outstanding summaries. This is the 5th edition, but I studied the 2nd edition 11 years ago as an undergraduate. If possible, this wonderful, comprehensive book is even better now. I cannot recommend it enough!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book ...If I could reward more than 5 stars I would, April 9, 2006

By 

lucastam "t" (phoenix,az) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices, and Constraints (5th Edition) (Hardcover)

This is probably the best Sociology books that I have ever read.It's both informative and thought provoking. Not only is the book full of useful chapter material that anyone... not just students, can use in everyday life. It is also filled with interesting history in "changes" boxes and fun filled facts in "choices" boxes. Even the "ask yourself" quizzes are worth reading. You definately learn more about human nature, relationships, and even yourself with how this text is written.