Bette J. Dickerson – författare

In the past, research about African American single mothers and their families has been done using conventional paradigms based upon models of the dominant culture. This practice has resulted in the creation of stereotypes and misconceptions about "the black family." In this collection of original work by an interdisciplinary group of scholars, the African American mother-centered family is reevaluated to present a clearer and more accurate picture of its actual structure and function. Using an Afrocentric, feminist perspective, the contributors examine the history, legal dilemmas, media images, and religious values of these families. The roles of children, grandparents, fathers and other men, other support people, and the government are reviewed. Presenting an informed, insiders view of the African American single-mother household, the contributors suggest more effective and sensitive policy approaches and a more useful role for scholars/activists in this field. This is crucial reading for students and scholars of race/ethnicity studies, black studies, child development, gender studies, social work, sociology, psychology, and policy studies. "African American Single Mothers examines the lives of women outside of the usual stereotypes and misconceptions. Original work by scholars evaluate the African American mother-centered family's function and values." --The Bookwatch "This volume reevaluates the research on families headed by African American single mothers and displaces the stereotypes and misconceptions created by previous research. Using an Afrocentric feminist perspective, the authors examine the history, legal dilemmas, media images, and religious values of these families and review the roles of children, grandparents, and the government. With an insider view that calls for the use of more sensitive and effective policy approaches, the book is intended for students and scholars of race studies, black studies, sociology, and social work." --Journal of Social Work Education

"Notions of Family: Intersectional Perspectives" presents new and original research on gender and the institution of family featuring both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The objective of this volume is to present a framework for understanding the ways in which the salient identities of gender, class position, race, sexuality, and other demographic characteristics function simultaneously to produce the outcomes we observe in the lives of individuals as integral forces in the maintenance of family. While there is a large body of literature in each of these demographic areas of analysis and theory, only within the past decade have academics attempted to model and analyze the "simultaneity" of their functioning as one concerted force in our everyday lived experience. Moreover, there has been little directed focus on any particular institutional force in current textual discussions of intersectionality. We seek to begin the process of addressing this void in the academic literature with this edited volume on the family as a societal institution.