21st Century Families: What Really Counts?

What’s important to a child’s well-being and development? Is it the form of family structure that matters, the style of parenting, whether or not they have one or two parents, the method of their conception, the quality of the family relationships or the biological relatedness to, or the gender of, their parent(s)?

We continue our series of forums with debate led by two of Newnham’s professors.

Professor Susan Golombok, Director of the Centre for Family Research at Cambridge and author of the highly acclaimed Modern Families: Parents and Children in New Family Forms, will talk about the role of family structure on children’s psychological wellbeing.

Professor Claire Hughes, Professor of Developmental Psychology, Deputy Director of the Centre and author of the prize-winning Social Understanding and Social Lives, will discuss the role of family processes on child development.

In particular, Susan will highlight the variety of modern family forms in which children can flourish and Claire will focus on some of the ways in which particular styles of parenting may help or hinder young children’s social and cognitive development.

Both Claire and Susan are renowned for their approachability and their engaging style; they will be joined by Julia Hoggett, Megan Goldman Roberts, Gill Gorell Barnes for the afternoon panel and discussion with the audience.

We aim to challenge some myths and explore what really matters for children, gaining an understanding of family relationships as a whole.

Whether you have had (or are considering having) a baby with the assistance of technologies such as IVF, egg donation, sperm donation or surrogacy, have adopted or are thinking about adoption, are a single mum, a lesbian mum or part of a traditional nuclear family, we would love to hear your views.

The morning will begin with coffee at 10am, Susan Golombok will talk about her research from 10.30am-11.30am when Claire Hughes will take over and discuss her work until 12.30pm when there will be a break for lunch. Lunch can be purchased in the on-site Buttery. A panel discussion with audience interaction will take place from 2pm-3.30pm.

For more information please email roll@newn.cam.ac.uk