ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the editors set out the background, rationale and structure for this collection. This presents an opportunity to look at families, diverse lives and also the forces that shape possibilities of living an adult sexed life. They explain the framing of the book and each contribution is summarised. The editors focus on not only diversity but also the forces that shape our experiences of intimacy, family, childhood and relationships in the 21st century.
Each of these contributions to the sociological studying of the family disrupts the individualisation thesis through contributors’ analytical attention to subjectivity, emotion and structure in family life. Whilst the work is not culturally comparative, we consider the global impact of neoliberal ideology on our perceptions of family and parenting in the 21st century. The international dimension illustrates the causes and consequences of globalisation and the consequent effect on the economic and personal lives of individuals and families. The empirical evidence base of this volume covers the time span from the early 2000s to the present day and offers a critical analysis, current thinking and research in the field of personal, intimate and family lives.
