Moving beyond gender: processes that create relationship equality.
Equality is related to relationship success, yet few couples achieve it. In this qualitative study, we examine how couples with children in two time cohorts (1982 and 2001) moved toward equality. The analysis identifies three types of couples: Postgender, gender legacy, and traditional. Movement toward equality is facilitated by: (a) Stimulus for change, including awareness of gender, commitment to family and work, and situational pressures; and (b) patterns that promote change, including active negotiation, challenges to gender entitlement, development of new competencies, and mutual attention to relationship and family tasks. Implications for practice are discussed.
Knudson-Martin
Carmen
C
Department of Counseling and Family Sciences, Loma Linda University, California 92350, USA. Cknudsonmartin@mft.llu.edu
Mahoney
Anne Rankin
AR
D004651:Employment; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors