This book makes a compelling case for placing the social and legal practices of inheritance centre stage to make sense of fundamental questions of our time.Drawing on historical, literary, sociological, and legal analysis, this rich collection of original, interdisciplinary and international contributions demonstrates how inheritance is and has always been about far more than the set of legal processes for the distribution of wealth and property upon death....

The enactment of the Divorce Reform Act 1969 was a landmark moment in family law. Coming into force in 1971, it had a significant impact on legal practice and was followed by a dramatic increase in divorce rates, reflecting changes in social attitudes.This new interdisciplinary collection explores the background to the 1969 Act and its influence on law and society. Bringing together scholars from law, sociology, history, demography, and film and literature, it reflects on the chang...

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 and the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 are important legal, social and historical landmarks, rich in symbolic, material and cultural meanings. While fiercely opposed by many, within mainstream narratives they are often represented as a victory in a legal reform process that commenced with the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Yet, at the same time, for others they represent a problematic and ambivalent political engagement with the institution of marr...

Feminist Perspectives on Child Law is a collection of interdisciplinary socio-legal essays which explore the complex relationship between childhood,gender and the law. Drawing on a wide range of feminist and critical theories and empirical research, these original essays challenge the gender neutrality of law; they explore the shifting constructions of childhood by law, legal practice and popular culture; and they provide critical and timely insights into the complex relationship ...

Disability and Society: Ideological and Historical Dimensions explores the changing relationship between disability and society in Western culture from early modern times to the present, with a particular emphasis on Ireland. The author identifies the main ideologies and practices that have shaped the relationship between disability and society, describes how these emerged over time and discusses their continuing impact on social, political and cultural life today. Rather than interpreting d...

A contemporary snapshot of Irish education, this book positions 21st-century Irish education at the centre of the creation of the knowledge economy and outlines the challenges and changes presented as a result of a changing education system and society. Part 1: The Changing System charts selected changes that have taken place in Irish education in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and considers educations's role in building a knowledge economy and social cohesion Part 2: Diversity and Incl...

International Criminology is an easy-access critical introduction to how conventional criminologists in the international arena think about and research crime. By using examples from the US, UK and Australia, the authors outline key ideas, vocabulary, assumptions and findings of the discipline while opening up a set of critical underlying issues and problems.From theoretical traditions to historical perspectives; contemporary criminology to reflexive criminology; this all ...

Based on interviews with key actors in the policy-making process, this book maps the changes in education policy and policy making in the Thatcherite decade. The focus of the book is the 1988 Education Reform Act, its origins, purposes and effects, and it looks behind the scenes at the priorities of the politicians, civil servants and government advisers who were influential in making changes. Using direct quotations from senior civil servants and former secretaries of state it provides a ...

Law and ethics are two vital aspects of social work – all social workers need to practise according to the law and their codes of ethics and conduct. However, the relationship between the law and social work values and ethics is not without its tensions and this book takes a problem-based approach to explore the dilemmas and challenges that can arise.The first part of the book sets out frameworks for thinking about the law and ethics, and how they relate to social work. It also int...

This book is a comprehensive and critical introduction to the field of gender and crime, re-thinking the key themes and debates within a human rights framework.Integrating empirical, theoretical and policy-related material, this Second Editionhas been significantly updated, and now includes;Full consideration of the 2010-2015 Coalition Government and its effect on gender and crime within England and WalesA new chapter relating crimi...

Feminism and ‘The Schooling Scandal’ brings together feminist contributions from two generations of educational researchers, evaluating and celebrating the field of gender and education. The focus throughout is on the years of compulsory schooling, examining key concepts in gender and education identified and developed by international thinkers in educational feminism. Topics covered include:social class, ethnicity and sexuality in relation to experiences in school;

First published in 1992, David Kirk’s book analyses the public debate leading up to the 1987 General Election over the place and purpose of physical education in British schools. By locating this debate in a historical context, specifically in the period following the end of the Second World War, it attempts to illustrate how the meaning of school physical education and its aims, content and pedagogy were contested by a number of vying groups. It stresses the influence of the culture of po...