Table of Contents

1. Constructing (step)families: continuity or difference?; 2. Being 'a family'; 3. Putting children first? Adults, children and coupledom; 4. 'Doing family': caring, authority and material provision; 5. 'It's just not fair!': The rights and wrongs of 'doing family'; 6. Conclusions: difference, and morality and democracy in (step)families.

About the Author

Jane Ribbens McCarthy is Lecturer in Qualitative Methods at the Open University. Rosalind Edwards is Professor in Social Policy at South Bank University. Val Gillies is a Research Fellow at South Bank University