Unmarried couples with children /

The growth of children born to women who are not married is a statistical and social issue that needs to be better understood. Yet few studies examine the dynamics of this family form beyond the mere documentation of its rate of occurrence and economic viability. This publication from the Russell Sage Foundation fills that gap. It is qualitative research based on a larger probabilistic quantitative study called "Time, Love, and Cash among Couples with Children" (TLC3) by the Council on Contemporary Families. Consequently, the book is a thorough, methodologically sophisticated piece of research that examines family planning, economic issues, reasons for couple breakup, parenting behavior post-breakup, and the formation of new families among low-income families in cases where the biological parents were not married at the time of the child's birth. This collection is definitely one of if not the most exhaustive and indispensable resources for anyone interested in understanding the issues, dynamics, and experiences surrounding unmarried couples with children, and in providing resources for families such as these. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. L. Wolfer University of Scranton