Family Decision-Making: A Developmental Sex Role Model (SAGE Library of Social Research)

The authors present a new model of the process of family decision-making that takes into account the importance of sex roles. They use a series of couples as examples that illustrate the model at various stages of the life cycle. They also consider how decision-making is changing. A major contribution to the study of sexual politics and bargaining within relationships.

′The authors are to be commended for their attempt to bring order to the complexities of family decisioning, and their work should stimulate further research in the area. Their focussing upon couples and families rather than individuals and their extension of the concept of "family" to nontraditional arrangements also are commendable.′ -- Journal of Marriage and the Family, November 1981

′This book...is an important contribution to family sociology...(It) deserves the serious attention of family sociologists. Moreover, its extensive bibliography and use of case studies makes it well-suited for classroom use.′ -- Social Forces, Vol 60 No 4, June 1982

′This very useful contribution to the subject of family decision making ought to find ready acceptance by a wide range of readers. Written in non-jargon style, teachers of family courses will find the model easy to use and the students will enjoy the "familiar" scenarios. Practitioners should especially note Part II for many illustrations of very familiar situations that show the model "in action". Indeed for anyone interested in the topic of decision making and influence in the family, this work should not be missed.′ -- Sociology, July/Aug 1982

′Family Decision-Making is a well-written, conceptually solid contribution to the family sociology literature. It is one of the best attempts to renew the emphases of sociological theory and research upon the social processes that the founding fathers of sociology focused upon in their classic treatises.′ -- Contemporary Sociology, Vol 12 No2, March 1983