Women and the Family: Two Decades of Change

Despite the pervasive changes that have taken place in women’s lives in the past twenty-five years–increased participation in the labor force, the attainment of higher levels of education, and higher salaries–comparable changes in the division of family labor and in the roles of men have lagged considerably. In this timely book, the editors and other experts in feminism and family studies examine the effects of two decades of influence by the women’s movement on sex roles and child rearing. While applauding some positive changes, the contributors point to powerful forces of resistance to equality between the sexes, especially the question of family –the fear of depriving children of maternal attachment and the belief that working mothers are placing their own interests above those of other family members–as an issue that, until fully addressed, prevents genuine equality between the sexes.