1st Edition

British-Indian Adult Children of Divorce Context, Impact and Coping

By Chaitali Das Copyright 2011
    204 Pages
    by Routledge

    204 Pages
    by Routledge

    Divorce has become a form of family change in contemporary western societies, spawning much research to investigate its causes and consequences. Such research has promoted a sociological understanding of divorce, impact on families and individuals as well as implications for public policy. However, research in this domain has been largely restricted to white populations in western contexts as well as adhering to quantitative research methodologies. There is little understanding of the dynamics of minority ethnic families, sometimes resulting in false assumptions and over-generalizations about family structures, stability and transitions in these communities. The impact of this gap in knowledge leads to perspective blocks in terms of how minority ethnic families are conceived in the public sphere as well as in academia. Similar to other minority ethnic groups, there is little literature on divorce in South-Asian families. Though traditionally divorce rates within South-Asian communities were low, there is now an upward trend. This is the first book to analyze the experiences of British-Indian adult children of divorce and contextualize their experiences within the larger multi-cultural polity of the UK. It also discusses the value and implications of understanding the divorce phenomenon and how it is experienced within this community to present insights into what multi-cultural social work and knowledge can mean. This can also enhance support provision for all children and enable better coping of family transitions by acknowledging their specific contexts and needs.

    List of Figures and Tables, Preface, Acknowledgements, PART I. Understanding Divorce and its Impact, 1. What We Know About Divorce: Causes and Impact, 2. Making Sense of the Past in the Present – History and Culture of the British-Indian Community, PART II. The Method of Investigation, 3. The Study and the Challenges, PART III. Participants and their Stories, 4. Context of Parental Divorce, 5. Impact of Parental Divorce, 6. Coping with Parental Divorce, 7. Risk and Protective Factors within the Ecological Context, Part IV.?Implications and Conclusion, 8. Policy and Practice Implications, Bibliography, Index

    Biography

    Dr Chaitali Das is Lecturer in Social Work at Queens University Belfast, UK.

    'Very little has been written about British-Indian children’s experience of divorce. This book highlights the particular difficulties for families and children from these communities. Because divorce threatens the traditional family form valued by the community, divorcing families can find themselves isolated and stigmatized. Making a strong case for culturally competent and culturally sensitive practice this book is highly recommended for all those working within the British-Indian community.' Ann Buchanan, University of Oxford, UK