John M. Armstrong (Southern Virginia): The Family's Role in Society. Cassandra Chaney (LSU) and Colita Nichols Fairfax (Norfolk State): The Obamas and the Culture of Black Parenting in America. Guyonne R.J. Kalb (Melbourne) and Jan C. Van Ours (Tilburg): Reading to Young Children: A Head-Start in Life? Pamela Haag on how behavioral economics can solve alimony meltdowns and motherhood wars. Is forced fatherhood fair? If a man accidentally conceives a child with a woman, his choices are surprisingly few. Harold Pollack reviews Doing the Best I Can: Fatherhood in the Inner City by Edin and Timothy J. Nelson. The silver-haired safety net: More and more children are being raised by grandparents. Stacia Brown on how in the “mommy wars” black single moms are invisible. Working moms in France: Claire Lundberg on how the government benefits are great, job prospects not so much. Asya Pereltsvaig on the best country to be a mother: Finland. Donna Peach reviews The Origins of Active Social Policy: Labour Market and Childcare Policies in a Comparative Perspective by Giuliano Bonoli. Emily Shire on the problem with Time's cover story on the child-free life — and what it says about our attitudes toward the childless. Childfree adults are not “selfish”: In choosing not to have children, we have not abdicated obligations to friends and family.
