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Introduction Michelle Janning From News Headlines to New Research News and social media headlines abound with contradictory stories about parents—from tales of neglect to fear of helicopter parenting, from woes of social inequalities to concern about screen time. Journalists cover great stor- ies, but sometimes these stories and their spinoffs and commentary can make parents feel as if the world is judging them at every turn, and they can make people who are in professions that help parents or conduct research about them feel conflicted about what is actually going on. What readers think they know and understand about parenting and parenthood can stem from mis- information and oversimplification. This edited volume of new and sophisti- cated research and writing from top and up-and-coming social science scholars on topics ripped from the headlines helps to clarify the debates and demystify hyperbolic headlines and social media frenzy. The book offers much needed clarity for students, practitioners, scholars, and parents. This book is meant to bridge the gap between the reality for families today and the news headlines about families that may shock and awe us. The auth- ors of each chapter take timely and often contradictory headlines from news and social media and offer accurate and nuanced research-based views of the actual experiences of parents and the cultural construction of parenthood in contemporary society. While the news items cited in this book may be outdated as soon as you start reading, the gap between how we see news about parenting and parent- hood and the actual experiences of today’s parents and children is always worth scrutinizing. The scrutiny of this gap is offered in each chapter in a sophisticated way. Social scientists are interested in people’s realities, to be sure. But we are particularly intrigued when our perceptions of reality are shaped by powerful media sources, peers, and politicians. And there’s no guarantee that these sources actually capture the reality of parents’ lives. As a