Marriages and Families: Diversity and Change

by Mary Ann Schwartz, BarBara Marliene Scott

Taking an historical, cross-cultural, and global approach, this book focuses on the link between social structure and the everyday lives of people's diverse experiences of marriages, families, and intimate relationships. It shows how contemporary families go well beyond the traditional, heterosexual, two-parent, white, middle class family and heterosexual legally-sanctioned marriage; challenges the assumption that one culture's way of doing things is the “natural” or “right” way; shows how marriage and family life have changed historically over time and from place to place; and how political and economic globalization impacts families worldwide. Features extensive boxed material accompanied by questions for personal reflection. Marriages and Families Over Time. Ways of Studying and Explaining Marriages and Families. Understanding Its Influence In Intimate Relationships. The Many Faces of Love. Dating, Coupling, and Mate Selection. Sexuality and Intimate Relationships. Nonmarital Lifestyles. The Marriage Experience. Reproduction and Parenting. Evolving Work and Family Structures. Violence and Abuse. The Process of Divorce in the United States. Remarriage and Remarried Families. Families in Later Life. Marriages and Families in the Twenty-first U.S. and World Trends. For anyone interested in marriage and family dynamics, including individuals, counselors, nurses, social workers, home economists, etc.

584 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Paulatics]

Dr. Mary Ann Schwartz is my mentor. She was instrumental in my academic development in sociology and women's studies.