This article explores paradigm shifts in family sociology from the 1960s to the 1990s using a thematic content analysis of 7 multiple-edition texts. Two competing views on theoretical developments are examined. David Cheal claims that challenges posed to structural functionalist hegemony resulted in theoretical pluralism and an end to this hegemony. Dorothy Smith argues that Parson's theoretical assumptions are so deeply embedded in the discourse of family sociology that they continue to govern major issues and debates. As late as the 1990s, we found that structural functionalism continued to frame many topics and debates in the majority of texts even when new concepts and more critical literature were added. Notable exceptions were textbook treatments of African American families and gender issues. This suggests that the relative success of social movements in institutionalizing their goals may be an important factor in determining paradigm shifts.

This paper compares a model of labor supply for female heads of household, male heads, and wives. Not only have female-headed households increased significantly as a proportion of all households in recent years, but these households are also more likely to be in poverty than are other households. Yet, the determinants of labor supply for this increasingly important demographic group still are largely unknown. Analyses are performed on a sample of employed female and male heads and wives from the 1976 Survey 01 Income and Education. We examine the elyects of wages, unearned income, number of children, and several other variables on hours worked per year, allowing for race interactions. We find that female heads and wives are similar in the effects of wages on their labor supply, while female and male heads are similar in the positive effect of children. We conclude that although financial need, as evidenced by low wages and children, increases female heads' labor supply, employment in more advantaged, non-female dominated jobs and core industries is needed to promote their full participation in the labor force.

Despite legislative and legal aids designed to reduce the persistent earnings inequality between employed males and females, there is little evidence of improvement over the past 40 years. One difficulty with research on this topic has been the inability to distinguish gender discrimination—unequal pay for equal work—from earnings differences due to dissimilar work. This article describes an empirical method to identify work-similar occupations using selected measures from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (U.S. Department of Labor, 1977b). With a collection of workhomogeneous occupations, we examine male-female earnings differences within these occupations and find that discrimination against females is extensive. Therefore, although there is much attention today on the issue of comparable worth, it appears we have yet to achieve equal pay for equal work.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the National Meal Guidelines on service providers and caterers involved in home-delivered and centre-based meal programs in Australia. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted to explore the uptake of the guidelines by participants and evaluate the impact on their practice. Closed questions were analysed using χ 2 and Fisher's exact tests, while open-ended questions underwent thematic analysis to identify key themes. Results: A total of 101 out of 441 participants completed the survey (response rate of 23.0%). Most participants (69%) were currently referring to the guidelines, particularly for nutrition guidelines, menu planning and auditing tools. Key barriers to implementation were cost, supplier compliance issues and lack of staff education. Conclusions: The National Meal Guidelines have been successfully implemented in many services around Australia. Further research should investigate their impact on customer satisfaction and external supplier compliance.

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