University of Hull: The relative value of a day out

Families feel an increasing need to participate in "highly visible" public activities such as group days out to show unity, a conference will hear next week. Displaying Families will look at how family life is celebrated in public and will explore a concept first proposed by family sociologist Janet Finch that the decline of the traditional family unit creates a need for families to redefine themselves and a desire to show the outside world who they are. The seminar day is jointly organised by researchers at the University of Hull and the University of Bristol on behalf of the British Sociological Association Family Study Group. It will take place at the University of Hull on 16 January.

www.britsoc.co.uk/specialisms/FamilySG.htm.