This course focuses on understanding the experience of families in the United States from a sociological perspective. We begin by considering definitions of "the family" and common theoretical frames sociologists use to study families. After an historical overview of changes in family life, we will concentrate on contemporary families. We will study the institution of the family as both "private" and "public." Specifically, we will study the current trends in the processes of family formation (e.g., dating, cohabitation, marriage, childbearing and adoption), the "work" of families (e.g., housework, emotional labor, caring for children and other relatives), and the dissolution or transformation of families (e.g., divorce, widowhood, children leaving home). Throughout the course, we will look carefully at variations in family structures and experiences across race, class, gender, age, and sexuality. We will also study family policies and current debates over topics such as same-sex marriage, non-marital childbearing, and "helicopter parenting."