No Man's Land: Men's Changing Commitments to Family and Work

Book Description

A long-overdue look at how men are responding to the gender revolution, this book presents a richly nuanced picture of the varied ways that men are reassessing their commitments to work and family life.

Customer Reviews:

Lots of info, but no real point........2003-03-02

Summary:
No Man's Land is the result of over one hundred interviews the author (or her graduate student assistants) conducted with men in the New York metropolitan area. Gerson is interested in the changing roles of men as regards work and family. In order to discover how men's roles are changing, she analyzes the interviews and ultimately comes up with the following:
There are essentially three types of men in terms of their commitments to work and family: (1) Those that are oriented toward Breadwinning; (2) Those that are oriented toward Autonomy; (3) Those that are oriented toward Family Involvement.

Breadwinners are men that are the primary wage earner for their families. They express their concern and love for their family by working long hours to make enough money to support their family. The long hours usually mean that they don't really spend time with their family, but they consider this a way of showing their family how much they love them.

The Autonomous are men that are not interested in family. They may find fulfillment in their work or in things outside of work, but they are more interested in finding their own fulfillment than in creating or maintaining a family.

The Family Involved are men that have put their families before everything else. They may reduce the hours that they work or purposely avoid promotions so they can spend more time with their families. These men may not make as much as the Breadwinners, but they are more interested in spending quality time with their families.

Of course, Gerson does make the point that men can shift from one path to another (e.g. from Breadwinner to Autonomous or vice versa and so forth) or can kind of mix paths, but it is easiest to understand men from these perspectives.

And, though she never really comes right out and says it, the main reason for why men end up where they do is because of job opportunities (at least, that is the impression you get from reading the book). What is meant by this is that some men climb the corporate ladder quickly. If they had a family when they first started this climb, then they become Breadwinners. If they didn't, then they become autonomous. If they start climbing the corporate ladder but then get stuck, they may become Family Involved. And, a lot of men that are not successful in work and thus are fearful that they can't support a family turned toward Autonomy.

The book ends with the author making some vague comments on how the workplace (and the world for that matter) should change so men can more easily be Family Involved; I guess that is assumed to be the ideal.

My Comments:
As I said before, there is a lot of information in this book and it really is pretty easy to read. The problem is that the information isn't really presented in a format that makes patterns in men's lives distinguishable. Every time she offers an example to illustrate a point, it is followed by another example two lines later that contradicts the previous one. And, even though Gerson categorizes men into three categories, she also points out that you can move between these rather fluidly or you can combine categories - which makes the categories almost meaningless.

But the biggest problem with the book is that she attributes men ending up in these categories to men's success in the marketplace. Now, it may be a bit extreme to say that she is claiming that men's financial success is really the only factor; she talks about how some men have orientations towards being Breadwinners or being Autonomous from very young ages, but there is no discernible pattern in how these men end up - they are just as likely to go from having a Breadwinner orientation to becoming a Breadwinner as they are from having a Breadwinner orientation to becoming Autonomous. So, the impression you end up with is that your job is going to determine your orientation toward your family rather than your family or desires for a family determining your job.

Gerson does ultimately spill the beans about her bias: men should be Family Involved and workplaces should change to allow that to happen. I must admit that I don't disagree with her, but as an academic, is she supposed to have an opinion on things? I don't know, that's a question that is beyond my ability to answer.

Anyway, I would like to say that the book is insightful and informative, but the conclusions are just not very convincing. Some more quantitative studies have found evidence for her claims and some have contradicted her claims. Some very recent work shows that most men have a traditional attitude towards family - they are Breadwinners regardless of their financial situation.

Customer Reviews:

The best primer on men's issues from a Christian perspective.......1999-09-04

As a professional in men's ministry, I read constantly to stay current in the field. The burgeoning area of gender studies and men's studies in particular has needed a reliable resource to understand the complexities of Christian influence on a man.

Richard Olson has been a student of men's issues for years. His 1982 book "Changing Male Roles In Today's World" was ahead of it's time. By 1997 a revision was in the works. So much has happened, however, in the last 10 years that an entirely new book was necessary.

This book contains an overview of men's issues from a Christian and ecumenical perspective. It explores in survey fashion spiritual men's movements, relationships, violence, male theology, mentoring, emotions, psychological needs, and contemporary issues in gender studies. It does not accept common gender stereotypes or make assumptions about masculinities. This book is not your typical drivel about "being God's man" found in some Christian bookstores.

Richard Olson served as a pastor for years and is currently teaching at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. I have worked with Richard on occasion and know of his passion of intellectual integrity and excellence.

The audience for this book expands beyond Christian men. Wives will find this helpful as it articulates several issues that their husbands may find hard to intiate. Professional Church Leaders will want to read this to consider how they may reach more men and better minister to those in their congregations. Scholars beginning to delve into gender studies will appreciate the research already compiled and presented in summary forms.

Book Description

From the Foreword of Fatherhood Today "This is more than a volume about fathers. It is a book about how social science and culture interact, mutually influencing the social roles in modern society It is not clear whether the rediscovery of fathers in the 1970's by social scientists encouraged us to notice fathers' active participation in families or whether the cultural shifts in women's work roles and alterations in men's awareness of their emotional and expressive capacities led to an awakening of interest among social researchers. In either case, this volume is a marvelous testimony of the clear interdependence of science and society." —From the Foreword by Ross D. Parke

Men and Marriage: The Changing Role of Husbands

Average customer rating:

Men and Marriage: The Changing Role of Husbands
Elizabeth Comstock Mooney
Manufacturer: Franklin Watts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 053109703X

Young Unwed Fathers: Changing Roles and Emerging Policies

Average customer rating:

Young Unwed Fathers: Changing Roles and Emerging Policies
Robert I. Lerman
Manufacturer: Temple University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1566390486

Book Description

This volume is the first volume to bring together a wide and balanced array of research program and policy perspectives on unwed fatherhood. The essays illuminate the public debate about welfare reform, paternity and child support, and family values.

The changing roles of women and men in the family and in society: Report of an International Conference, Aspen Institute Berlin, February 27-March 3, 1977 (Report from Aspen Institute Berlin)

Average customer rating:

The changing roles of women and men in the family and in society: Report of an International Conference, Aspen Institute Berlin, February 27-March 3, 1977 (Report from Aspen Institute Berlin)
Hanna-Beate Schöpp-Schilling
Manufacturer: Aspen Institute Berlin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Men's Changing Roles in the Family (Marriage and the Family Ser., Vol. 9, Nos. 3-4)

Average customer rating:

Men's Changing Roles in the Family (Marriage and the Family Ser., Vol. 9, Nos. 3-4)
Robert A. (editor); Sussman, Marvin B. (editor) Lewis
Manufacturer: Haworth Press, Incorporated, The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HMOMQO

Book Description

Certain to become the definitive work in English on the Battle of France, this volume is a long overdue and much needed correction to all previous English accounts. With extensive use of primary sources and strong secondary sources, it places us closer to the actual operational planning, preparation, and deployment of one of the most successful military operations in recent history. It covers major changes made by the German Army after the Polish Campaign; and the infighting surrounding these changes; the reorganization and preparation of the Army for the Battle of France. It also provides the only detailed day-by-day breakdown of German action during the battle's first five critical days. According to S. J. Lewis, it provides a totally new perspective to these battles and a unique view of the German Army. This volume covers extensive ground and uses numerous appendices and detailed biographical sketches to set the stage for its primary focus--a five day period during the Battle of France. Similar to the Allied Invasion of Normandy, the campaign plan for the Battle of France required six months to develop and elaborate. As a result, this reading provides an ideal opportunity to observe the World War II German Army performing its military work and an insightful look at the friction inherent in campaign planning and on the battlefield.

Customer Reviews:

Good story but with some annoying mistakes.......2006-04-18

This is a nice operational history of Guderian's armored thrust through the Ardennes to the Channel, but I would expect from the author to be more precise when choosing the military terminology: Guderian's force was NOT a Panzer Corps but a Motorized Corps in 1940 and later was named Panzer Group Guderian, Panzer Group 2 and 2nd Panzer Army. Germany did not have ANY Panzer Corps until the middle of 1942, when most of the existing Motorized Corps were renamed so.

Average customer rating:

If you've made it this far, just buy it!

Highly Recommended

The Fresh Politics Reader: Making Current Events And Public Affairs Relevant to Young Americans
Taylor W. Buley
Manufacturer: Silver Lake Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Civil Rights & Liberties | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Civics | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Public Affairs & Administration | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

What Every American Should Know About Who's Really Running the World

The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (Vintage)

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

ASIN: 1563437929

Book Description

Welcome to the 21st century. The information age. The time of miracles and wonder. Weren't things supposed to be different? Our modern society is pitting the growing ambitions of the state against the personal interests of the individual. This is exactly the kind of crisis that spurred America's Founders to action. It's time that someone reminds young Americans that every generation needs to protect its hard-won personal liberties.

This book is a tool for seeing past the state politics of corrupt statism.

Taylor Buley is a student at the University of Pennsylvania and founder of the political website freshpolitics.us. He brings a fresh, libertarian perspective to issues that have gotten stale in familiar debate. Among the points he makes:

- Modern technological advances "pro-life" positions on abortion, the death penalty and other issues) more compelling - government policies on security, gun control, Social Security and affirmative action all work against individual liberty

- Most statist policies attempt to trade vital freedoms for corrupt soils-seeking programs; this is a bad deal

- Big-government partisans still cling to mainstream media, where they use proven tricks like framing and labeling to push their agenda

- Statism isn't so must an ideology as it is a shared point of view… shared by conservatives and liberals in the U.S. political arena

Buley shows young people how to recognize the tricks and hype… and how to understand their own needs and expectations of the political world. Most importantly, he shows readers how to use public policy to recover America's best strengths for their generation.

Customer Reviews:

If you've made it this far, just buy it!.......2006-06-06

Clear. Compelling. Concise. Exciting. Energetic.

These are words that I use to describe Mr. Buley's writing style and message. This book aims to uncover complex and sometimes conflicting political messages and problems, and it succeeds in this mission.

If you're a student with any interest in politics -- or want to learn more about it -- buy this book. You owe it to yourself to have some of the largest political problems of our age put into simple and exciting terms.

Liberty is valuable. It should remain that way.

Highly Recommended.......2006-05-30

This book is a must-read for anyone, from the committed political aficionado to someone wondering why politics gets the attention it does. It tackles all the important issues, from guns and drugs to social security and health care, while digging deep below the surface on each one.

Mr. Buley doesn't waste space on the insignificant quibbles that turn many off from politics, but instead covers the substance of each topic he addresses. He never fails to leave out how an issue rose to prominence, why it deserves consideration, and most importantly, why the reader should care. While he writes from a libertarian perspective, he by no means forces the reader to adopt his views. He explains why he holds the beliefs he does, but provides the reader plenty of information to form his or her own opinion. The writing itself is clear, intelligent, and very easy to follow.

Anyone unsure of what to make of the current political melee, just starting to develop their politics views, or simply trying to gain a little more insight into the issues absolutely must read this book.

Product Description

Giggles and bubbles and splashing around. And stories and jokes and questions and poems. For that special time of the day comes Bathtime Brain Quest. Do whales sing? Why does the bathroom mirror fog up when you breathe on it? How many arms does an octopus have? It's all about the wonder of water, fabulous creatures of the deep, and the fun of getting squeaky clean.Brain Quest Bathtime offers 10 original poems and stories and 175 questions, answers, jokes, and riddles on the very subjects kids want to talk about while in the tub with Mom or Dad at their side. The deck is printed in full-color on waterproof paper and comes with a yellow terry cloth duck that doubles as a bath mitt. Ages 3-5. Parent Guide included.

Customer Reviews:

:itt;e Duck.......2007-05-10

My grandson is very happy with this latest edition to his Brain Quest collection . His mother has been using it to lull him to sleep, not an easy task.

Another great Brainquest product.......2005-09-29

Of all the Brainquest products my daughter has (My first, preschool, kindergarten, and bedtime) this one has the most challenging questions for her. Many of these questions has caused us to do experiments with her (such as what happens to water when it freezes and when it is boiled). The pages are made of a waterproof plastic like material so you can leave them in the tub. All in all, another great product.

Fun in or out of the bathtub.......2003-02-12

I am a fan of Brain Quest products, but wasn't sure about this one. Basically, I wasn't sure what level it would be on. It is great fun for my almost 5 year old. There are lots of interesting science realted ideas in the book, such as: If an ice cube fell into the warm water in the tub, what would happen to it? or Which is heavier- a dry washcloth or a wet washcloth? There are jokes, poems and rhymes too. The waterproof paper makes it quite sturdy as well. Oh yes. My daughter loves the little duck washcloth puppet as well and plays with him out of the tub as well as in!

Ducks Nature Activity Book (Nature Activity Books - Waterford Press)

Average customer rating:

Ducks Nature Activity Book (Nature Activity Books - Waterford Press)
James Kavanagh
Manufacturer: Waterford Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Birds | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1583552588

Average customer rating:

Un colchÃ³n de plumas para Ãgata
Carmen Agra Deedy
Manufacturer: Peachtree Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Family Activities | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Family Travel | Specialty Travel | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ducks & Other Waterfowl | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Actividades Familiares | Padres y familia | Libros en español | Formats | Books

Viajes Especializados | Viajes y turismo | Libros en español | Formats | Books

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books