is a major new introduction to the study of the family, written by one of the leading scholars in the field. Morgan shows that the study of the family is not a peripheral concern of sociology but rather lies at the heart of sociological theory and research. takes the reader through the established debates, such as the relation between family life and the world of work and employment, the impact of class and stratification on the family, and the relevance of gender. Morgan then examines some newer areas of social inquiry, including the sociology of the body, time and space, food, and the home. The relevance of the family to more general topics of sociological theory such as postmodernity, citizenship, consumption and risk are all discussed.The emphasis throughout is on family relationships as processes which are fluid, complex and open to change. This timely, wide-ranging and innovative book will be of great interest to students and scholars in family studies, sociology, and gender and women's studies.