Fast-Forward Family

Called "the most unusually voyeuristic anthropology study ever conducted" by the New York Times, this groundbreaking book provides an unprecedented glimpse into modern-day American families. In a study by the UCLA Sloan Center on Everyday Lives and Families, researchers tracked the daily lives of 32 dualworker middle class Los Angeles families between 2001 and 2004. The results are startling, and enlightening. Fast-Forward Family shines light on a variety of issues that face American families: the differing stress levels among parents; the problem of excessive clutter in the American home; the importance (and decline) of the family meal; the vanishing boundaries that once separated work and home life; and the challenges for parents as they try to reconcile ideals regarding what it means to be a good parent, a good worker, and a good spouse. Though there are also moments of connection, affection, and care, it's evident that life for 21st century working parents is frenetic, with extended work hours, children's activities, chores, meals to prepare, errands to run, and bills to pay.

Inhalt

List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Note to the Reader

Introduction
Elinor Ochs and Tamar Kremer-Sadlik

1. Coming Home
   Elinor Ochs and Belinda Campos
2. At Home
   Anthony P. Graesch
3. Dinner
   Elinor Ochs and Margaret Beck
4. Mountains of Things
   Jeanne E. Arnold
5. Housework
   Wendy Klein, Carolina Izquierdo, and Thomas N. Bradbury 000
6. Chores
   Wendy Klein and Marjorie Harness Goodwin
7. Homework and Recreation
   Tamar Kremer-Sadlik and Kris Gutiérrez
8. Nurturing
   Marjorie Harness Goodwin and Charles Goodwin
9. Stress
   Rena Repetti, Darby Saxbe, and Shu-wen Wang
10. Health as a Family Matter
    Linda C. Garro
11. Time for Family
    Tamar Kremer-Sadlik
12. The Good Enough Family
    Elinor Ochs and Tamar Kremer-Sadlik

Appendix: The CELF Study

References
List of Contributors
Index