The Parental Obligation: A Study of Parenthood Across Households

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Description

What kinds of obligations do parents have towards their children as family life becomes more complex Many children pass through a number of different households, living with one or both parents, step-parents and step-siblings. The controversy surrounding the Child Support Act indicates that social norms do not yet sit easily with legal regulations. So how are new forms of family life accommodated in the legal system This book argues that parenthood, rather than marriage, is now emerging as the central mechanism through which moral principles are converted into legal and social obligations. This study of 250 children who do not live with both of their parents shows that despite the comparative legal emptiness of marriage, the experience of living longer with both parents than is usually the case of children of cohabiting or single parents, endows the child with social capital in the form of enduring involvement with the outside parent, even after divorce, and that this happens to a greater extent than for children whose parents were not married. The book provides an account of the decline of marriage and the growth of alternative relationships.

Reviews

Maclean and Eekelaar's exploration of social and biological parenthood is thought-provoking and full of insights. -- Bren Neale * Social Policy *
The Parental Obligation is an extremely useful addition to our understanding ...which will no doubt stimulate further research and thought. -- Jonathan Herring * Cambridge Law Journal *
... the book is based on methodologically rigorous empirical research and meticulous scholarship, and is well worth reading. -- Christine Piper * Family Law *
This book should certainly be on the reading list of anyone considering the current debate about the parenting of children of lone parents -- The Review Editor * New Law Journal *
It is clear, accessible, and adds authoritatively to the growing and impressive canon of work in this area. -- Simon Jolly * International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family *
The book is stimulating and thought-provoking. -- Professor John Dewar * Queensland Law Society Journal, Proctor *
This is an important and timely book.. It complements and extends the invaluable socio-legal work Maclean and Eekelaar have been undertaking for many years on parenting and divorce, and provides much needed empirical data. -- Jennifer Mason * Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law *
The Parental Obligation is thought provoking, and as promised, the study does raise important new questions against which current knowledge should be viewed. -- Anna Byas * Alternative Law Journal *
...a most valuable contribution to the debate about the nature of the obligations of parenthood chiefly because of its attempt to stimulate lateral thinking which takes on board the complexity and fluidity of family relationships. -- Andrew Bainham * Journal of Law and Society *

Author Bio

Mavis Maclean is co-founder of the Oxford Centre for Family Law and Policy, Oxford University. John Eekelaar is Reader in law and Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford.