Description
Book SynopsisIt''s common knowledge that responsibilities in the home are not divided equally between men and women. Most sociological studies of this phenomenon focus on why these gender differences are so persistent-persistent enough to have earned names like the dual burden and the second shift. Feminists bemoan how slowly this gender gap is changing. Sociologist Oriel Sullivan, however, focuses on the neglected topic of the processes of change, discussing changing domestic gender practices on many different levels-from changes in attitudes about gender equality in the home to the quantitative analysis of change in the domestic division of labor. Sullivan argues that it''s time to consider these issues from a longer historical perspective. Changing Genders, Changing Families argues for an acceptance that change is with us, presents multi-layered evidence for change, and offers a theoretical structure that is useful for developing an account of these processes of change. His newly developed theo
Trade ReviewSullivan marshalls persuasive evidence that marriage is in the process of being fundamentally transformed by the changing roles, relations, and negotiations of husbands and wives. Even marriages organized according to the so-called "traditional" male breadwiner/female homemaker division are responding to changing values and expectations. An important contribution to our understanding of modern marriage. -- Stephanie Coontz, author of Marriage, A History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage
This is an extremely important book. Most books treat the family as static: fixed in a moment of time. This book corrects this misleading picture; the family and its members are changing all the time in response to global, economic and cultural forces. Almost uniquely, this text lets us understand how family and gender patterns are changing, and where things might be heading. This book will educate educators as well as students. It should change the way family classes are taught. -- Dr. Pepper Schwartz, professor of sociology, University of Washington; author of The Normal Bar
A significant sociological study of the process of change in domestic gender relations and, through evidence of reciprocal causality, in the larger social sphere....The book is important for all gender scholors across the social sciences and activists who seek to make and understand the processes of large-scale social change. * Book Review Digest *
Oriel Sullivan has addressed an issue of great contemporary interest, and has given us a well-written, well-informed and insightful account of the complex evidence about changing gender relations in family life..... -- R. W. Connell, The University of Sydney
Oriel Sullivan has addressed an issue of great contemporary interest, and has given us a well-written, well-informed and insightful account of the complex evidence about changing gender relations in family life. -- R. W. Connell, The University of Sydney
Table of ContentsPart 1 Part I: Changing Theory Chapter 2 Theorizing Change Chapter 3 Slow Nature of Change, Slow Change in Theory Part 4 Part II: Evidence for Change Chapter 5 The Discursive Context: Attitudes, Language, and Masculinities Chapter 6 Cross-National Changes in Domestic Labor: Convergence over Time? Chapter 7 Difference and Change in Domestic Labor between Couples: Some More Equal Than Others? Part 8 Part III: Changing Gender Relations at Home Chapter 9 The Intimate Context: Gender Consciousness and Intimacy Chapter 10 Change at Home: Research Examples and a Framework Chapter 11 Conclusion: A Project for Change?
