Social Relations and the Life Course

MICHAEL ANDERSON Professor of Economic History, University of Edinburgh SARA ARBER Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Ageing and Gender (CRAG), University of Surrey FRANK BECHHOFER Professor and University Fellow, Research Centre for Social Sciences NADIA JOANNE BRITTON Lecturer in Sociology, University of Sheffield RUTH BUTLER Lecturer in Applied Social Research, University of Hull SARAH CHEESBROUGH PhD Graduate, University of Southampton FIONA DEVINE Professor of Sociology, University of Manchester JEAN DUNCOMBE Senior Lecturer, School of Social Studies, University College, Chichester EILEEN FARHURST Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University VAL GILES Research Fellow in Social Sciences, South Bank University PETER HALFPENNY Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Applied Social Research, University of Manchester SHEILA HENDERSON Visiting Fellow at the Social Science Research Centre, South Bank University JANET HOLLAND Professor of Social Research and Director of the Social Science Research Centre, South Bank University LYNN JAMIESON Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR) and Reader in Sociology, University of Edinburgh LIZ KENYON Senior Research Officer, National Foundation for Educational Research YAOJIN LI Research Fellow, Centre for Census and Survey Research, Manchester University CATHERINE MACLEAN Lecturer in Sociology, University of Edinburgh DENNIS MARSDEN Visiting Professor in the School of Social Studies, University College, Chichester DAVID MCCRONE Co-Director of the Governance of Scotland Forum and Professor of Sociology, University of Edinburgh SHEENA MCGRELLIS Senior Research Fellow in the Social Science Research Centre, South Bank University (based at the University of Ulster) SARA MCNAMEE ROSEMARY MELLOR Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Manchester until her death in 2001 DAVID MORGAN Emeritus Professor, University of Manchester JANE RIBBENS MCCARTHY Lecturer in Qualitative Research, Open University SUE SHARPE Research Fellow at the Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London TRACEY SKELTON Lecturer in Human Geography, Loughborough University ROBERT STEWART Consultant with MVA, Edinburgh RACHAEL THOMSON Senior Research Fellow in the Social Science Research Centre, South Bank University GILL VALENTINE Professor of Geography, University of Sheffield

This collection of essays represents some of the most important recent research into changing patterns of family, household and community life. It brings together some of the leading sociologists in the field to explore how these informal social relationships change over time and the life course.This collection of essays represents some of the most important recent research into changing patterns of family, household and community life. It brings together some of the leading sociologists in the field to explore how these informal social relationships change over time and the life course. It will be essential reading on courses concerned with the family and youth sociology.