Marriage and the Family ─ Mirror of a Diverse Global Society

Marriage and the Family: Mirror of a Diverse Global Society is a comprehensive text about marriage and the family in sociology, family science, and diversity studies. The book is divided into four parts: studying marriage patterns and understanding the family diversity; developing and maintaining intimate relationships; tackling family issues and managing household crises; and appreciating contemporary living arrangements in a diverse American society and across the global community. Marriage and the Family is unique in its focus on diversity as well as its global perspective. Diversity Overview boxes feature vignettes of family diversity in America. Global Overview boxes invite students to experience family life in different areas of the world. Indeed, families become a mirror that helps students see a diversifying American society and a globalizing world.

Dr. Cheryl Boudreaux is assistant professor of sociology at Grand Valley State University. She has a PhD. in sociology from Brandeis University, a master’s degree in sociology from Boston College, and a BA in sociology and teaching from UC San Diego. Professor Boudreaux’s overall interests are in the social construction of knowledge and the production and maintenance of worldview. She has enjoyed teaching marriage and family at the university level over the last 20 years and currently teaches this in addition to Death and Dying and Love Sex and Gender. Dr. Boudreaux co-authored the text Introduction to Sociology: a Collaborative Approach where she wrote the chapter on family. She has chaired the family division of the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) and is very active in that organization.

Dr. Julie Xuemei Hu is Senior Professor of Sociology at Union County Collage. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and American literature, and a master’s degree and the doctorate in Sociology. Her interests of study include social stratification, marriage and the family, racial and ethnic relations, social problems, distance learning education, and student learning outcome assessment. Dr. Hu has been teaching Marriage and the Family for more than ten years at the college/university level. She published the text Gender and Work. She co-authored the text Introduction to Sociology and created instructor’s manual and PowerPoint lecture notes for this book. Dr. Hu was asked by Wadsworth, Cengage Learning Inc to produce 15 Chapters of Audio Study Tools supplemental materials corresponding with the text The Marriage and Family Experience, 10/e.

Dr. Victor N. Shaw is a professor of sociology at California State University-Northridge. He holds a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, a master’s degree in the humanities, and a doctoral degree in social sciences. Dr. Shaw is interested in the study of crime, deviance, social control, organizational behavior, academic careers, higher education, and public policy. He has published nine books, seven other book chapters, and thirty-three journal articles. Among his nine books, Substance Use and Abuse: Sociological Perspectives appeared in "Outstanding Academic Titles, 2003," CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and Career-Making in Postmodern Academia: Process, Structure, and Consequence is at the top of some academic advisors’ list of books to read for postgraduate students and professionals.