.png){kind=icon}
Albanese, P. (2014). Introduction to Canadian families: Historical and recent variation, definitions and theories. In D. Cheal and P. Albanese (Eds.) Canadian Families Today (3rd ed.). Toronto: Oxford University Press.
This comprehensive analysis of Canadian families covers the families’ historical evolution and recent trends.
Chan, J., & Takeuchi, D. (2011). Intermarriage, ethnic identity, and perceived social standing among Asian women in the United States. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73, 876–888.
This is an analysis of how Asian women in the US respond to inter-ethnic marital partnerships today. Factors of education and social class seem to play a crucial role in the matching of couples.
Qian, Z., & Lichter, D. (2011) Changing patterns of interracial marriage in a multiracial society. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73, 1065–1084.
This article explores another new aspect of the institution of marriage in multi-racial societies: inter-ethnic marriages. It looks specifically at the circumstances under which inter-ethnic marriages take place.
Smith, S.R., & Hamon, R.R. (2012). Exploring Family Theories (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
This book deals with social science theories of the study of family. These theories have looked at family functioning from several different angles.
Sev’er A. (2014.) All in the family: Violence against women, children, and the aged. In D. Cheal and P. Albanese (Eds.) Canadian Families Today (3rd ed.). Toronto: Oxford University Press.
In this chapter, the author looks at how violence is generated and perpetuated within the family.
Walls, J. (2006). The Glass Castle. New York, NY: Scriber.
Jeannette Walls grew up in a dysfunctional family. With an alcoholic father and a mother who didn’t care for the idea of raising children, the Walls children were completely self-sufficient. They relied on themselves for protection, food, and shelter.
Westover, Tara. (2018). Educated. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Growing up in a survivalist family, Tara Westover never went to school, a doctor’s office or used any government agency for her entire childhood. After deciding to go to university, and eventually pursuing a PhD at Cambridge, Tara Westover writes her story of growing up in an environment that lives by rules and values not held by mainstream society.
Woodson, Jacqueline. Brown Girl Dreaming. New York, NY: Penguin Publishing House.
Brown Girl Dreaming is an autobiography by Jacqueline Woodson about growing up as an African American in South Carolina in the sixties. With a political backdrop of Jim Crow, Woodson explores what it means to be African American in a society that is on the periphery of its discovery of the civil rights movement.
Yen Mah, Adeline. (2010). Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter. New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
Chinese Cinderella is a memoir by Adeline Yen Mah about triumphing in the face of an unsupportive family. After Adeline’s mother dies giving birth to Adeline, Adeline’s father deems Adeline a sign of misfortune and pushes her aside at every opportunity to do so.
Yodanis, C., Lauer, S., & Ota, R. (2012). Interethnic romantic relationships: Enacting affiliative ethnic identities. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74, 1021–1037.
This article examines what happens to ethnic identities of the couples who enter into inter-ethnic marriages. It is interesting to note that some couples tend to move away from original identities while others reconstruct a new one incorporating certain aspects of old identities.
Recommended Videos
Abuse, Fear, and Intimidation: How Viral Videos Masked a Prep School’s Problems: https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000006207277/louisiana-school-viral-video-landry.html?playlistId=video/Most-Viewed
T.M. Landry College Prep posted videos showing young, black students getting college acceptances to the Ivy League schools. Harvard, Cornell, Yale and Brown, it all seemed possible. But behind the scenes the story was different. The tale of impoverished black students finding a better future at T.M. Landry doesn’t begin to explain the abuse that they faced.
An App That Helps Incarcerated People Stay Connected to Their Families: https://www.ted.com/talks/marcus_bullock_an_app_that_helps_incarcerated_people_stay_connected_to_their_families
Marcus Bullock spent eight years in prison and his mother helped him through every step of the way. Daily letters and photos kept him sane in an otherwise emotionally draining process. After stepping out of the prison walls, Bullock took it upon himself to start FlickShop, an app that would allow families to send postcards to loved ones behind bars.
My American Surrogate: https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000006463736/my-american-surrogate.html?playlistId=video/op-docs
A Chinese businesswoman located in American matches Chinese parents with American surrogates.
The Psychological Impact of Child Separation at Borders: https://www.ted.com/talks/luis_h_zayas_the_psychological_impact_of_child_separation_at_the_us_mexico_border
Louis Zayas, a social worker, talks about the effects of psychological trauma on the developing brain when children are forcibly removed from their families.
Recommended Websites
Bystander Revolution: https://www.bystanderrevolution.org
Many kids today face issues with bullying. Scary and frustrating for parents, the Bystander Revolution attempts to reframe the dialogue around bullying so as to take the power out of bullying.
Center for Parent Information and Resources: https://www.parentcenterhub.org
National Dissemination Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities is a website for parents with children who have a disability. This website provides webinars and parent resources to help parents strategize and enable nurturing environments for their kids.
LGBTQ Parenting Network: https://lgbtqpn.ca
LGBTQ Parenting Network provides an important support system for parents who identify outside of heteronormativity.
Step Talk: https://www.steptalk.org
Step Talk is an online community of stepparents who can ask questions and discuss important topics related to blended families.