This provocative volume is comprised of psychological, socioeconomic, and cultural perspectives on couple dynamics, particularly gender dynamics, and the future of marriage. Featuring data on married, cohabitating, male/female, and same-sex couples, the authors of the book's chapters analyze the changing impacts of work, parenting, and the health benefits of marriage for men and women. Trajectories in the evolution toward gender equality provide the backdrop for discussions of women and men as partners, parents, and workers in contemporary society. Contributors also keep a sharp focus on the complexities of gender issues as they intersect with crucial contexts of cohort, class, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Among the topics covered: Gender equality and economic inequality: impacts on marriage.Expansionist theory expanded: integrating sociological and psychological perspectives on gender, work, and family change.Gender, work, and family: action in the interactions.Changes in U.S. mothers' and fathers' time use: causes and consequences.A case for gay fathers.Gender, marriage, and health for same-sex and different-sex couples Gender and Couple Relationships documents social roles and social change with fascinating insight to advance research in fields of psychology, sociology, demography and economics and to the benefit of work organizations, policy makers, family and couple therapists and other mental health professionals.

Provides an interdisciplinary approach Includes a historical perspective Examines a variety of types of couples and families Covers program and policy implications

Autorentext

Susan McHale, Ph.D., is Director of the Social Science Research Institute and The Children, Youth, and Family Consortium and Distinguished Professor of Human Development at The Pennsylvania State University.

Valarie King, Ph.D., is Professor of Sociology, Demography, and Human Development & Family Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, and is the Director of the Family Demography Training Program at the Population Research Institute. She currently serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Marriage and Family and Journal of Family Issues .

Jennifer Van Hook, PhD., is Professor of Sociology and Demography and Director of the Population Research Institute at The Pennsylvania State University.

Alan Booth, Ph.D., is Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Demography, and Human Development & Family Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. He has been a senior scientist in Penn State's Population Research Institute since 1991. Dr. Booth has co-organized the university's National Symposium of Family Issues since its inception in 1993.

Inhalt
Marriage, Family Systems, and Economic Opportunity in the United States since 1850.- Trends in Women's and Men's Time Use, 1965-2012.- Gender Equality and Economic Inequality: Impact on Marriage.- Women, Men, Work and Family: The Expansionist Theory Updated.- Expansionist Theory Expanded: Integrating Sociological and Psychological Perspectives on Gender, Work, and Family Change.- Overlooked Inequalities: Employment, Parenting and Partnering for Men in Families.- Women, Men, Work and Family: Action in the Interactions.- Effect of Father Engagement on Child Behaviors.- Why Do Fathers Matter for Children's Development?.- Changes in U.S. Mother's and Father's Time Use: Causes and Consequences.- Re-Envisioning Why Fathers Matter Beyond the Gender Binary: A Case for Gay Fathers.- Gender, Marriage and Health for Same-Sex and Different-Sex Couples: The Future Keeps Arriving.- Simplifying the Complex Complicates our Findings: Understanding Marriage, Singlehood and Health.- Intersectionality: An Approach to the Study of Gender, Marriage and Health in Context.- His and Hers: Are We There Yet? Gender and Equality in Couple Relationships.