Transforming the Discussion About Diversity, Policies, and Law

Abstract

The impact of laws and policies on diverse families are vital to transformative discussions held in our journals, classrooms, conferences, and local, state, and federal communities. To this end, transformative discussions serve as a reminder about our values as U.S. citizens—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; equal protection; and social justice. One aspect of this transformative discussion may include how laws place some families in the margins of society while privileging others. In this special collection, the authors lay a foundation for a transformative discussion, unveiling and highlighting some of the negative consequences of child welfare laws, family laws regarding marriage and family, and criminal laws. The collection closes with an example of an action-oriented article on how to conduct a policy analysis.