Gender and Close Relationships / Edition 1

by Barbara Winstead, Valerian Derlega, Suzanna Rose

Overview

Born into a gendered world, gender affects virtually all of our close relationships. How we interact with one another during each stage of a relationship is influenced by the volatile and sometimes divisive role that gender plays in our lives. Gender and Close Relationships is an exploration into the current world of gendered interaction and the ways in which gender influences how others perceive and treat us. This timely and comprehensive discussion demonstrates, clearly, how societies construct and create gendered relationships, but also suggests how "non-traditional" close relationships may strengthen, or make irrelevant, gender-linked behavior. While framed within a solid scholarship, the authors' presentation style is accessible, engaging, and practical. This book is ideal for students as well as academics, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of psychology, gender studies, interpersonal communication, and family studies. Gender and Close Relationships will also provide the interested lay reader with a deeper understanding of how being gender-identified may influence the quality, quantity, and content of our relationships.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803971677
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	04/09/1997
Series:	SAGE Series on Close Relationships , #15
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.42(d)

Table of Contents

	Series Editors' Introduction	ix
	Preface	xii
1.	Introduction	1
	Explaining Gender Differences in Relationships	3
Dimension 1	Structural Versus Individual	4
Dimension 2	Socialization Versus Biology	8
	Preview	15
2.	Attraction and Dating	18
	Choice of a Romantic Partner	19
	"Opposites" Attract?	26
	Dating	27
	"Being Good at Being a Man (Or Woman)"	31
	"Safer Sex": Condom Use Among Dating Couples	35
	Perceived Benefits and Costs of Romantic Relationships	38
	Conclusions	40
3.	Sexual Relations	41
	Male and Female Attitudes About Acceptable Sexual Behaviors	42
	Why Men and Women Hold Different Attitudes About Sex in Casual Relationships	47
	Reasons Given by Females and Males for Having Sex	50
	Sexual Role-Playing: Who Initiates, Who Sets Limits?	55
	Forced Sex	60
	Conclusions	64
4.	Relationship Maintenance	66
	Maintenance Behaviors	67
	Predicting Relationship Satisfaction and Stability	71
	Division of Labor	77
	Conclusions	86
5.	Conflict and Violence	88
	The Demand-Withdrawal Interaction Pattern	89
	Gender Stereotypes About How Men and Women Cope With Conflict	95
	Is There a Physiological Explanation for Why Men May Withdraw From High Conflict Situations?	96
	How Do Same-Sex Couples Handle Conflict?	96
	How Males and Females May Be Alike in Coping With Conflict: Relationship Types	97
	Physical Assaults	98
	Gender Differences in Physical Aggressiveness	100
	Interaction Patterns in Couples With a Violent Husband	104
	Violence in Same-Sex Couples	107
	Conclusions	109
6.	Friendship	110
	Gender Roles and Relationships	111
	Child and Adolescent Friendships	114
	Adult Same-Sex Friendships	117
	Adult Cross-Sex Friendships	123
	Conclusions	128
7.	Epilogue: Final Thoughts	130
	Theories Revisited	131
	Research on Gender and Relationships	133
	Implications for Your Relationships	134
	References	137
	Index	155
	About the Authors	167