Marriages and families : changes, choices, and constraints

For courses in Marriage and Family, Sociology of Family, Family Studies/Relationships in departments of Sociology, Family Studies, and Psychology. Exceptionally comprehensive, innately interesting, and extremely readable, this best-selling text introduces students to the study of contemporary marriages and families in ways to which they can easily relate. It examines the diversity of American families-giving equal attention to all racial, ethnic, and other societal groups-and examines not only the choices, but the constraints that often limit our family-related choices today. This open-minded approach, combined with a set of practical guidelines presented in each chapter, encourages students to think and act for themselves-and thereby join the effort to resolve some of the crucial issues confronting 21st century families. Although written from a sociological perspective, the text incorporates material from other disciplines as well-e.g., history, economics, social work, psychology, law, biology, and anthropology-all supported by both quantitative and qualitative research-most from the mid to late 1990s.

I. MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY IN PERSPECTIVE. 1. The Changing Family. 2. Studying Marriage and the Family. 3. The Family in Historical Perspective. II. THE INDIVIDUAL AND DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS. 4. Gender Roles and Socialization. 5. Love and Loving Relationships. 6. Sexuality and Sexual Expression Throughout Life. III. INDIVIDUAL AND MARITAL COMMITMENTS. 7. Choosing Others: Dating and Mate Selection. 8. Singlehood, Cohabitation, and Other Nonmarital Living Arrangements. 9. Marriage and Communication in Intimate Relationships. IV. PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 10. To Be or Not to Be a Parent: More Choices, More Constraints. 11. Raising Children: Contemporary Prospects and Pitfalls. 12. Racial and Ethnic Families: Strengths and Stresses. V. CONFLICTS AND CRISES. 13. Families and Work: Facing the Economic Squeeze. 14. Family Violence and Other Crisis-Related Issues in Family Life. 15. Separation and Divorce. VI. CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS. 16. Remarriage and Stepfamilies: Life After Divorce. 17. Aging and Family Life: Grandparents, the Widowed, and Caregivers. 18. The Family in the Twenty-First Century. APPENDICES. Appendix A: Sexual Anatomy. Appendix B: Sexual Problems, Dysfunctions, and Treatment. Appendix C: Conception, Pregnancy, and Childbirth. Appendix D: Birth Control and Disease-Prevention Techniques. Appendix E: HIV/AIDS and Other Sexually-Transmitted Diseases. Appendix F: Premarital and Nonmarital Agreements. Glossary. Index.