Sara Arber has recently co-edited a new book on Contemporary Grandparenting, which combines new sociological theorising with up-to-date empirical findings to document the changing nature of grandparenting across diverse societies. It analyses how grandparenting differs according to the nature of the welfare state and cultural context, the influence of family breakdown, and men's changing role as grandfathers. It shows how grandparents today face conflicting norms and expectations about their roles, but act with agency to forge new identities within societal and cultural constraints.  

Full details:  Sara Arber and Virpi Timonen (2012) 'Contemporary Grandparenting: Changing Family Relationships in Global Contexts', Policy Press. http://www.policypress.co.uk/display.asp?ISB=9781847429674