Full Description
Called "the most unusually voyeuristic anthropology study ever conducted" by the "New York Times", this groundbreaking book provides an unprecedented glimpse into modern-day American families. In a study by the UCLA Sloan Center on Everyday Lives and Families, researchers tracked the daily lives of 32 dual worker middle class Los Angeles families between 2001 and 2004. The results are startling, and enlightening. "Fast-Forward Family" shines light on a variety of issues that face American families: the differing stress levels among parents; the problem of excessive clutter in the American home; the importance (and decline) of the family meal; the vanishing boundaries that once separated work and home life; and the challenges for parents as they try to reconcile ideals regarding what it means to be a good parent, a good worker, and a good spouse. Though there are also moments of connection, affection, and care, it's evident that life for 21st century working parents is frenetic, with extended work hours, children's activities, chores, meals to prepare, errands to run, and bills to pay.
Contents
List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Note to the Reader Introduction Elinor Ochs and Tamar Kremer-Sadlik 1. Coming Home Elinor Ochs and Belinda Campos 2. At Home Anthony P. Graesch 3. Dinner Elinor Ochs and Margaret Beck 4. Mountains of Things Jeanne E. Arnold 5. Housework Wendy Klein, Carolina Izquierdo, and Thomas N. Bradbury 000 6. Chores Wendy Klein and Marjorie Harness Goodwin 7. Homework and Recreation Tamar Kremer-Sadlik and Kris Gutierrez 8. Nurturing Marjorie Harness Goodwin and Charles Goodwin 9. Stress Rena Repetti, Darby Saxbe, and Shu-wen Wang 10. Health as a Family Matter Linda C. Garro 11. Time for Family Tamar Kremer-Sadlik 12. The Good Enough Family Elinor Ochs and Tamar Kremer-Sadlik Appendix: The CELF Study References List of Contributors Index
