University at Albany State University of New York WSS 645/Soc 645-Gender in Families Spring 1992 Professor Glenna Spitze 9:05-12 noon Fridays, LI 320 This is a special topics course, Current Topics in Gender Research. We will focus on several issues in which gender conditions how adults and children experience family life. There will be two major requirements for the class: active participation in class, including leading discussion for one topic and reading each week so that you can participate in all class discussions; and a term paper/project which will lead to an oral report and a written paper. For each topic, I will ask two students to help plan readings and lead discussion. You will need to meet with your partner and me ahead of time, tell the class which readings everyone is expected to read and, if appropriate, ask for volunteers to report on other readings. For most topics, we will be carrying over the discussion into two class periods, so we will decide after the first discussion what questions we would like to focus on in further reading and discussion. We will discuss how we can make readings available to everyone. You will be expected to conduct a research project that will result in a 20 page paper. The paper will be presented to the class during the last few weeks of class. It can take the form of a literature review or a report on empirical data analysis (perhaps based on content analysis). We will discuss it further in class. Proposals for final papers (under one page) are due February 28. Final draft is due May 6 unless other arrangements are made ahead of time. I will be happy to read rough drafts and give you comments. Final grades will be based on: Class participation (30%); Leading class discussion (20%); Oral presentation of research project(15%); Written research project (35%). Readings: I have ordered a recommended text by Dornbusch and Strober but I expect most of our reading to be in journal articles and books. I have compiled a possible reading list for each topic. We will use this selectively and add to it. Proposed schedule (note: topics were chosen after advance consultation regarding students' interests) Jan. 24 Introduction, getting organized Jan. 31 Changing definitions of families/feminist perspectives/ media portrayal Feb. 7-14 Social views of pregnancy, women's and men's experiences of parenthood Feb. 28-Mar.6 Gender socialization of children March 13 Single parenthood/ economic distress in families March 20, April 3 Effects of families and unpaid work on paid work (March 27--vacation week) April 10-24 Family violence/power May 1 Project reports (plus one or two makeup days, possibly during exam period on May 6) LIST OF POSSIBLE READINGS A. Changing Definitions of families/ feminist perspectives Thorne, Barrie. 1982 "Feminist rethinking of the family: an overview", in Thorne (ed.) Rethinking the Family. Glenn, Evelyn Nakano. 1987. "Gender and the family", in Hess and Ferree (eds.) Analyzing Gender. Ferree, Myra Marx. "Beyond separate spheres: feminism and family research", Nov. 1990 JMF, and Contemporary Families. Baca Zinn, Maxine. "Family, feminism and race in America", Gender and Society March 1990. Collins, Patricia Hill. 1991. "Work, family, and black women's oppression", in Black Feminist Thought. Routledge. Beutler, Ivan et al. "The family realm--theoretical contributions for understanding its uniqueness" (and comments) JMF Aug. 1989 Edwards, John N. 1991. "New conceptions: Biosocial innovations and the family", JMF May 349-60. Bumpass, Larry. "What's happening to the family? Interactions between demographic and institutional change." Demography Nov. 1990 B. Social views of pregnancy/experiences of parenthood. Rossi, Alice. "Gender and parenthood," ASR Feb. 1984 Thompson and Walker , "Gender in families" (pp. 90-96), Nov. 1989 JMF, and Contemporary Families. Collins, Patricia Hill. 1991. "Black women and motherhood", In Black Feminist Thought, Routledge. McLanahan, Sara and Julia Adams, "Parenthood and psychological well-being", Annual Review of Sociology 1987, 13: 237-57. Skold, Karen. "The interests of feminists and children in child care", in Dornbusch and Strober. Presser, Harriet. 1989. "Can we make time for children? The economy, work schedules, and child care", Demography 26: 523-43. Crosbie-Burnett, Margaret et al., "Exploring stepfamilies from a feminist perspective", in Dornbusch and Strober Rothman, Barbara Katz. 1989, "Women as fathers: motherhood and child care under a modified patriarchy", Gender & Society March. Harrison, Michelle. 1987. "Social construction of Mary Beth Whitehead" and comment by Barbara Katz Rothman, Gender and Society Sept. 300-316. Fein, "Research on fathering: social policy and an emergent perspective." Skolnick and Skolnick, Family in Transition, 6th ed. Marsiglio, William. 1991. "Paternal engagement activities with minor children", JMF Nov. 973-86. LaRossa, Ralph et al. 1991. "The fluctuating image of the 20th century American father", JMF Nov. 987-97. LaRossa and LaRossa, "Baby care: fathers vs. mothers." Ch. 12 in Risman and Schwartz, Gender in Intimate Relationships. Day, Randal and Wade Mackey. 1989. "An alternative standard for evaluating American fathers", Journal of Family Issues Sept. 401-408. C. Gender socialization of children Andersen, Margaret. 1988. "Sex role socialization," in Thinking about Women, 2nd. ed.. Chodorow, Nancy. The Reproduction of Mothering. Univ. of Calif. Press. Jackson, Robert Max. 1989. "The reproduction of parenting", ASR April 215-32 (relates to Chodorow) Thorne, Barrie. 1987. "Revisioning women and social change: Where are the children?" Gender and Society March 85-109. Grauerholz, Elizabeth and Bernice Pescosolido. 1989. "Gender representation in children's literature: 1900-1984", Gender and Society March 113-26. Kiecolt, K. Jill and Alan C. Acock. 1988. "The longterm effects of family structure on gender role attitudes", JMF Aug. 709-17. White, Lynn and David Brinkerhoff, "The sexual division of labor: Evidence from childhood", Social Forces Sept. 1981. Benin, Mary Holland and Debra Edwards. 1990. "Adolescents' chores: the difference between dual and single-earner families", JMF May 361-73. Maines and Hardesty, "Temporality and gender: young adults' career and family plans," Sept. 1987 Social Forces Marini, Margaret M. and Mary Brinton. 1984. "Sex typing in occupational socialization," in Barbara Reskin (ed.), Sex Segregation in the Workplace. (also has a good review of theories of gender socialization and evidence about traits) Johnson, Miriam. Strong Mothers, Weak Wives. D. Single parenthood/economic distress Dornbusch and Gray, "Single parent families." Dornbusch and Strober Ch. 12 McLanahan, Sara and Karen Booth, "Mother-only families: Problems, prospects and politics", Aug. 1989 JMF or Contemporary Families. Garfinkel, Irwin and Sara McLanahan, Single Mothers and their Children: A New American Dilemma, Urban Institute Press. Blechman, "Are children with one parent at psychological risk?" Feb. 1982 JMF Morrissey, "Female-headed families: Poor women and choice." Ch. 14 in Gerstel and Gross, Families and Work. McLanahan, Sara. "Family structure and the reproduction of poverty", Jan. 1985 AJS Corcoran, Mary, Greg Duncan, Martha Hill. 1984. "The economic fortunes of women and children: Lessons from the Panel Study of income Dynamics." Signs Winter 232-48. Brewer, Rose. 1988. "Black women in poverty: Some comments on female-headed families" Signs Winter 331-39. Baca Zinn, Maxine. "Family, race, and poverty in the eighties", Signs Summer, 1989. Eggebean, David J. and Daniel Lichter. 1991. "Race, family structure and changing poverty among American children", ASR Dec. 801-17. Voydanoff, Patricia. "Economic distress and family relations", Contemporary Families. Weitzman, Lenore. 1985. The Divorce Revolution. E. Effects of families, unpaid labor on paid work Cowan, "Women's work, housework, and history: the historical roots of inequality in work-force participation," Ch. 6 in Gerstel and Gross, Families and Work. Bose, Christine. 1984. "Household resources and U.S. women's work: Factors affecting gainful employment at the turn of the century." ASR Aug. Nieva, Veronica. "Work and family linkages", in Larwoood et al (eds.) Women and Work, Vol. 1. V Roos, Patricia A. 1983. "Marriage and women's occupational attainment in cross-cultural perspective." ASR Dec. 852-64. Kalleberg, Arne L. and Rachel Rosenfeld. 1990. "Work in the family and in the labor market: A cross-national, reciprocal analysis", JMF May 331-46. Landry, Bart and Margaret Jandrek. 1978. "The employment of wives in middle-class Black families", JMF Nov. 787-97. Presser, Harriet and Virginia Cain. 1983. "Shift work among dual earner couples with children" Science Feb. 18. Mortimer, Jeylan, Richard Hall and Reuben Hill. 1978. "Husbands' occupational attributes as constraints on wives' employment", Soc. of Work and Occupations Aug. 285-313. Waite, Linda et al. 1985. "Changes in the employment activities of new parents", ASR Aug. 263-72. Shelton, Beth and Juanita Firestone. 1989. "Household labor time and the gender gap in earnings", Gender and Society 3: 105-12. Rosenfeld, Rachel A. and Arne Kalleberg. 1990. "A crossnational comparison of the gender gap in income", AJS July 69-106. Markham, William. "Sex, relocation, and occupational advancement: The "real cruncher" for women," in Stromberg et al (eds.) Women and Work, Vol. 2. Kessler-Harris, Alice. "The debate over equality for women in the workplace: Recognizing differences", Ch. 27 in Gerstel and Gross, Families and Work. F. Family violence/power Straus, Murray et al., "The marriage license as a hitting license", In Skolnick and Skolnick 6th ed. Family in Transition. Kurz, Demie. 1989. "Social science perspectives on wife abuse: Current debates and future directions", Gender and Society Dec. 489-505. Gelles, Richard and Jon Conte, "Domestic violence and sexual abuse of children" Nov. 1990 JMF or Contemporary Families.. Yllo, Kersti and Michele Bograd (eds.) 1988. Feminist Perspectives on Wife Abuse, Sage. Martin, Michael and James Walters. 1982. "Familial correlates of selected types of child abuse and neglect", JMF May 267-76. Hornung, Carlton et al. 1981. "Status relationships in marriage: Risk factors in spouse abuse", JMF Aug. Kalmuss, Debra and Murray Straus. 1982. "Wife's marital dependency and wife abuse", JMF May. Strube, Michael and Linda Barbour. 1984. "Factors related to the decision to leave an abusive relationship", JMF Nov. Seltzer, Judith and Debra Kalmuss. 1988. "Socialization and stress explanations for spouse abuse", Social Forces De. 473-91. Gordon, Linda. "Family violence, feminism and social control", In Women, the State and Welfare, ed. by Linda Gordon. Hampton, Robert L et al. 1989. "Is violence in black families increasing? A comparison of 1975 and 1985 national survey rates", JMF Nov. 969-80. Egley, Lance. 1991. "What changes the societal prevalence of domestic violence?", JMF Nov. 885-97. Cooney, Rosemary et al. 1982. "Decisionmaking in intergenerational Puerto Rican families", JMF Aug. 621-32. Komter, Afka. 1989. "Hidden power in marriage", Gender & Society June 187-216. England, Paula and Barbara Kilbourne. 1989. "Markets, marriages, and other mates: The problem of power", in Beyond the Marketplace (xerox)