This edited volume looks at the reproduction and transformation of family norms in contemporary times. Set against a context of far-right politics calling for a return to more conservative identity politics and family norms, and building on late 20th century social movements which challenged essentialist and functionalist understandings of identities and families, it considers a variety of non-traditional family structures. Written by scholars based in Argentina, Ghana, Italy, Portugal, the UK, and the USA, the chapters question what 'counts' as a family in contemporary times and considers how the discourses of power which operate in institutional and geographical contexts impact how families are recognized and valued. The book includes analysis of non-traditional and non-heteronormative families such as single-parent families, childless families, families with animal companions, LGBTQ families, families across the Global South, mixed heritage families and families of friends. Drawing on post-structuralist, critical, and feminist theories the contributors discuss how power relationships linked to gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, dis/ability and other in/equalities intersect and operate in defining what counts as a family.

This edited volume looks at the reproduction and transformation of family norms in contemporary times. Set against a context of far-right politics calling for a return to more conservative identity politics and family norms, and building on late 20th century social movements which challenged essentialist and functionalist understandings of identities and families, it considers a variety of non-traditional family structures. Written by scholars based in Argentina, Ghana, Italy, Portugal, the UK, and the USA, the chapters question what 'counts' as a family in contemporary times and considers how the discourses of power which operate in institutional and geographical contexts impact how families are recognized and valued. The book includes analysis of non-traditional and non-heteronormative families such as single-parent families, childless families, families with animal companions, LGBTQ families, families across the Global South, mixed heritage families and families of friends. Drawing on post-structuralist, critical, and feminist theories the contributors discuss how power relationships linked to gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, dis/ability and other in/equalities intersect and operate in defining what counts as a family.

Youre on demand 24/7, juggling children, home management, work, relationships, and never-ending to-do lists. You perform superhuman feats of multitasking to get it all done, but the harder you strive for life balance and happiness, the more tired, frustrated, and underappreciated you feel. Like many moms today, you are simply running on empty. In this guide, Kelly Pryde, Ph.D., combines real-life experiences with extensive research to help you step out of the hurried fogginess of everyday juggling into a deeper, more joyful experience of motherhood. Her seven pathways of reinvention will help you learn how to: turn around self-limiting beliefs and practices reclaim your feminine wisdom and restore your energy and mood rethink balance and priorities find joy, meaning, and peace of mind amidst the chaos slow down and reconnect with what matters most to you and your family Filled with practical advice, inspiring stories, and a wealth of resources, Reinventing Mom will support, nurture, and guide you toward becoming the Mom and woman you are meant to be.

Carmen I. Mercado draws on four decades of seminal research and theory on how American children, who come from homes where languages other than English are spoken, learn to read and to write in school to reveal aspects of locally-responsive planning and adaptations that should be central to any teacher education program that hopes to serve its unique, local population base responsibly. Mercado uses a range of theoretical lenses particularly those surrounding critical theory, the approach designed to deconstruct power relationships in society, to capture and explain the complexities of the teaching-learning process making visible institutional, social and political influences clear. She explores an extensive collection of tools and resources for teaching to explore how educators can inform their thinking and shape their own practices to broaden access to people and resources, and to influence classroom instruction as school populations becomes increasingly diverse on a global scale through immigration. Mercado also shows how self-study has been a key aspect of her program's evolution, suggesting that teacher education should be informed by teacher educators' own investigations into their own programs and processes; that each teacher educator ought to be an active reinventor of her own program, based on reflection on current data. Mercado sensitively draws together the technical and emotional dimensions of learning to teach, acknowledging that critical theory can bring up deep, often uncomfortable feelings of anger, guilt, resentment, and other responses to unfair conditions. However, since schools are designed as places of opportunity, facing these responses is essential at a time with the feelings of antagonism that characterize the present-day world and its conflictual social groups. Mercado offers the opportunity to address these facets of educational process in compelling, informed ways.

" a unique opportunity to learn about caregiving from a true veteran and practitioner of the art."-Jon D. Kaiser, M.D., Physician and Author of Healing HIV Coping with illness and dying is a challenge. How do we allocate resources? What are the rights and responsibilities of the sick and those tending them? Can the burdens of caregiving be blessings in disguise? In The Caregiving Zone, Peggy Flynn, founder and director of The Good Death Institute, describes the everyday challenges of caregiving. She encourages us to think about illness and death as incontrovertible realities that can be anticipated and made less burdensome for everyone involved. "Death is hard, but it doesn't have to be hideous." Using personal stories and reflections, Ms. Flynn illuminates life "in the Zone" with understanding and empathy. She suggests that individuals and families "take charge of the inevitable" by confronting their fears and preparing for illness and death before events overtake them. She envisions "a program designed for families or groups of friends who want to be proactive about the inevitable." The Caregiving Zone illustrates how both giving and receiving care can provide opportunities and rewards in addition to burdens. Sometimes, with insight, information and compassion, the benefits can outweigh the costs.

In Domestic Economies, Susanna Rosenbaum examines how two groups of women—Mexican and Central American domestic workers and the predominantly white, middle-class women who employ them—seek to achieve the "American Dream." By juxtaposing their understandings and experiences, she illustrates how immigrant and native-born women strive to reach that ideal, how each group is indispensable to the other's quest, and what a vital role reproductive labor plays in this pursuit. Through in-depth ethnographic research with these women at work, at home, and in the urban spaces of Los Angeles, Rosenbaum positions domestic service as an intimate relationship that reveals two versions of female personhood. Throughout, Rosenbaum underscores the extent to which the ideology of the American Dream is racialized and gendered, exposing how the struggle for personal worth and social recognition is shaped at the intersection of motherhood and paid employment.