This book makes a major contribution to our understanding of 21st
century families in Britain through an exploration of intergenerational
relationships. Drawing on new and extensive quantitative and qualitative
research, the authors explore the giving and receiving of financial
gifts. Despite growing concern about intergenerational tension and even
possible conflict, the book finds evidence of a significant degree of
intergenerational solidarity both within families at the micro level and
between generations more generally within society at the macro level in
Britain. However, given substantial inequalities within different
generations as a result, in particular, of social class divisions, some
families are able to support each other far more than others. This means
that strong intergenerational solidarity may lead to the entrenchment of
existing intragenerational inequalities.
The book will be of interest to scholars and students researching
Sociology, Social Policy, Family Sociology, Generations and
Intergenerational Relationships.