ABSTRACT
A central concern of sociology as a discipline is understanding the nature of social change, as it affects both individuals and institutions. In this context, research on the family has been a prominent feature of sociological work – partly because of the importance of family relations for socialisation and support, and partly also because family change is viewed as a significant indicator of wider changes in values and beliefs. A common strand in contemporary thinking concerns what is presented as the increasingly fragmented nature of family ties. From its previous position as a haven of security, family life is more often viewed in dystopian terms; marriage, rather than for life, appears as an interlude to moving on to other relationships. High divorce rates, the popularity (or reality) of living alone (or going ‘solo’), and the growth in cohabitation are taken as representative of the challenge to traditional social relationships.
