The unifying theme of Women and Public Policy is the impact of cultural change on women's roles in American society and patterns of public policy as they affect women and their families. Authors M. Margaret Conway, David W. Ahern, and Gertrude A. Steuernagel explore a broad range of policy areas that affect women, including typical issues such as education, employment, and health, as well as important but frequently overlooked areas such as marriage and family law, child care, and economic equity.

Recent events and changes in areas such as welfare reform, adoptions by gay parents, and the Defense of Marriage Act are also discussed in this thoroughly updated second edition.