Marriage in America : a communitarian perspective / Martin King Whyte, editor.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Whyte, Martin King.

Series:

Rights and responsibilities (Lanham, Md.)

Rights and responsibilities

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marriage--United States.

Marriage.

United States.

Families--United States.

Families.

Divorce--United States.

Divorce.

Physical Description:

xx, 309 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, [2000]

Summary:

Marriage in America removes the debate over "family values" from the polemics of partisan politics. In this volume, America's foremost thinkers on family issues -- social scientists, public policy advocates, family activists, and legal scholars -- consider an extensive roster of innovative policies and practices that play a vital role in either supporting or challenging the institution of marriage. The contributors examine a broad range of influences affecting marriage, including religious institutions, law and the courts, family therapists, employers, and government programs.

Contents:

1 The State of Marriage in America / Martin King Whyte 1

Part 1 Supporting Marriage as an Institution and Making Marriages Work

2 Cohabitation: A Communitarian Perspective / Linda J. Waite 11

3 On Responsible Fathering: An Overview, Conceptual Framework, and Recommendations for Policies and Programs / William J. Doherty, Martha F. Erickson 31

4 Peer Marriage / Pepper Schwartz 53

5 Building a Sound Marital House / Kimberly D. Ryan, Sybil Carrere, John M. Gottman 65

6 The Role of Psychotherapy in Promoting or Undermining Marriage: A Call for Reform / William J. Doherty 91

7 The Task of Religious Institutions in Strengthening Families / Don Browning 103

8 Turning the Hearts of Parents to Children: A Mother's Meditation on the Role of the Church / Enola G. Aird 121

9 A Comprehensive Approach to Removing Marriage Penalties / C. Eugene Steuerle 137

Part 2 Making Divorce a Less Popular Response to Marital Difficulties

10 Marriage as a Precommitment / Elizabeth S. Scott 161

11 The Law of Marriage and Divorce: Options for Reform / William A. Galston 179

12 The Misguided Movement to Revive Fault Divorce / Ira Mark Ellman 189

13 Morality, Fault, and Divorce Law / Milton C. Regan Jr. 219

Part 3 Reducing the Financial Harm to Children Produced by Divorce

14 The Family as Community: Implementing the "Children-First" Principle / Katherine Shaw Spaht 235

15 Reflection of Societal Change: How Government Strives to Guarantee Children the Support of Their Parents / David Gray Ross 257

16 Child Support Reform in Action: New Strategies and New Frontiers in Massachusetts / Marilyn Ray Smith 269

17 When Theory Meets Practice: Communitarian Ethics and the Family / Don Browning 293.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

074250770X

0742507718

OCLC:

43465181