UNIT 1. Evolving Perspectives on the Family 1. 46281 Marriage and Family in the Scandinavian Experience,David Popenoe, Society , May/June 2006 In this article, the author compares U.S. and Scandinavian societal expectations and attitudes regarding marriage and the family . Legal and social differences are addressed, and many surprising similarities are identified. For example, although the marriage rate is much lower in Sweden than in the United States, the breakup rate of relationships involving a commitment is much the same. 2. 46336 Interracial Families,Carol Mithers, Ladies’ Home Journal , July 2006 The number of mixed-race marriages has grown sevenfold from 1970 to 2000. The… implications of this change for managing relationships and socializing children are discussed. 3. 40652 Children as a Public Good,Myra H. Strober, Dissent , Fall 2004 In an individualistic society, like that of the United States, children as a private good is often emphasized. Myra Strober, an economist, presents quite a different model, one of children as a public good , and one that requires collective solutions to issues related to their care . 4. 40653 Families and Family Study in International Perspective,Bert N. Adams, Journal of Marriage and Family , November 2004 In an increasingly globalized world, families and family structure must be understood from a broader perspective. The author argues that an international perspective on the family , which incorporates regional limitations, provides us with better tools to research, teach about, and serve families . 5. 40651 The World Historical Transformation of Marriage,Stephanie Coontz, Journal of Marriage and Family , November 2004 Historian Stephanie Coontz takes the long view of over 5,000 years of recorded history on marriage and its evolution over time. Many of the assumptions we have about marriage and family are based on a very immediate notion of “tradition,” and, as she indicates, much of what we see as “new” has actually existed in the past and served the needs of family members at that time . UNIT 2. Exploring and Establishing Relationships Part A. Love and Sex 6. 42666 This Thing Called Love,Lauren Slater, National Geographic , February 2006 What we recognize as passionate love or infatuation shares a chemical profile that is surprisingly similar to that of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In order for relationships to last, we cannot depend on retaining feelings of passionate love throughout the duration of the relationship. 7. 43119 Pillow Talk,Nina Utne, Utne Reader , March-April 2006 Stephen Levine is a best-selling writer on the subject of death and dying. He and his wife, Andrea, have had three unsuccessful marriages between them before their current 26-year one. Their responses to a range of questions about lust, the meaning of marriage, love, and true intimacy will give all readers much to think about. 8. 43102 How to Talk about Sex,Heidi Raykeil, Parenting , February 2006 Although this article was written for partners who are also parents, it generalizes well to couples with varying interest/need for sex . Its encouragement of and guidance for outing the secret is important, as the risk of letting things go too long is real. 9. 40655 Reinventing Sex,Eric Garland, The Futurist , November/December 2004 Changing attitudes, behaviors, and resources will affect how we approach sex and sexuality in the future. Already, we are seeing an expansion of choices facilitated by advances in communication and sensory technology , with broad options in the future. Part B. Choosing a Mate 10. 38251 Great Expectations,Polly Shulman, Psychology Today , March/April 2004 The expectation that our partner should be our soul mate is, according to this article that combines the research and experience of many relationship experts, a recipe for disaster and unhappiness . 11. 40654 New Technologies and Our Feelings,Christine Rosen, The New Atlantis , Winter 2004 Pressed for time and stressed by the process, increasing numbers of individuals are turning to electronic means of finding dating and mating partners . The author discusses the pros and cons of these approaches. 12. 37796 Go Ahead, Kiss Your Cousin,Richard Conniff, Discover , August 2003 Contrary to common belief, one of the most common sources of a spouse has traditionally been cousins , even first cousins. Shared values and proximity make such unions attractive. One fear of these unions, risk to offspring, may be less serious than commonly thought. Children produced from these unions are only at a slightly higher genetic risk than the general population. Part C. Pregnancy and the Next Generation 13. 40801 A New Fertility Factor,Alice D. Domar, Newsweek , September 27, 2004 The mind-body connection is considered an important factor in conception. While fertility-drug injections are still used to help establish a pregnancy , alternative health care methods—complementary medicines such as meditation, yoga, relaxation therapy, and psychotherapy—are increasingly used for women. The stress of procreation failure creates anxiety and depression, which interferes with fertility . 14. 37749 Brave New Babies,Claudia Kalb, Newsweek , January 26, 2004 Whether or not to have a child is not the only decision facing some parents . The power to choose the sex of their child is now a possibility and some parents are electing to do so—sometimes for controversial reasons. 15. 46337 Breeder Reaction,Elizabeth Weil, Mother Jones , July/August 2006 The U.S. Constitution identifies the right to procreate as a fundamental human right. Yet there is almost no public policy in the United States regarding reproductive rights and access to reproductive technology . This provocative article discusses this thorny issue and the findings are thought provoking. 16. 40492 And Now, the Hard Part,Lauren Picker, Newsweek , April 25, 2005 Most couples look forward to the birth of their first child . But wait! Research strongly indicates that the new parents