Straight Talk About Today's Families

The so-called traditional family—a married man and woman living with their biological or adopted children—is not typical in today's society. According to U.S. Census figures in 1994, a full one-third of the 36.4 million families with children were headed by single parents, usually women. Today's family may include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all living under the same roof. It may be a blended family, created when widowed or divorced parents move their children in with those of their new spouse. It may be a family headed by grandparents, unmarried parents, or gay or lesbian parents.

Straight Talk About Today's Families takes a unique look at the composition and diversity of family structure. The book provides information to help teenagers understand and appreciate the dynamics of family life and the roles they themselves may play within it.