ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in this book. The book discusses the complexities of defining "family" and describes various family forms and discusses the criteria for constructing definitions of family, including values and norms. It outlines the differences between structural and functional as well as macro and micro definitions of family and comprehends the case studies of Nayar and Israeli Kibbutz families as examples of alternative family forms. The book also describes and apply Weber's concept of "ideal type" to family systems and discusses gender in families as it relates to authority, power, inheritance, and residence. It applies Money's typology of gender roles and explains both pessimistic and optimistic outlooks for the "family decline" debate.
