National Symposium on Family Issues

Men in Families: When Do They Get Involved? What Difference Does it Make?

The chapters in this volume are based on the presentations and discussions from the fourth annual National Symposium on Family Issues, held at the Pennsylvania State University October 31-November 1, 1996.

Citation
Booth, Alan and Ann C. Crouter (1998). Men in Families: When Do They Get Involved? What Difference Does it Make?. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

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From the Preface
The role of fathers and husbands in families has come to the fore as an important issue. It shows up in legislation aimed at deadbeat dads, social movements such as the Million Man March and Promise Keepers, in the development of advocacy groups, and in think tanks. Contemporary research on men in family relationships has very mixed results. Some studies show small effects of fathers on child development and their role in preventing antisocial behavior; others suggest no effects. Still other research suggests, the primary importance of men in families is in their role as provider. Others suggest husbands and fathers do their most vital work in new families, while others indicate that it is when offspring reach adolescence. Labor market trends would suggest that men's family roles may diminish. The time seems appropriate to bring scholars together to try to define men's current family roles, as well as estimate what the future portends for fathers and husbands.

Key Topics

1. Men's Roles in Families: A Look Back, a Look Forward

Lead Speaker: Steven Mintz, University of Houston

Discussants:

• Linda Burton, The Pennsylvania State University
• Andrew Cherlin, Johns Hopkins University
• Michael Lamb, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

2. Men's Investment and Parenthood

Lead Speakers: Jane B. Lancaster and Hillard S. Kaplan, University of New Mexico

Discussants:

• Patricia Draper, The Pennsylvania State University
• William Marsiglio, University of Florida
• Catherine A. Surra, University of Texas

3. Marital Relations: What Do Men Contribute?

Lead Speaker: John Gottman, University of Washington

Discussants:

• Scott Coltrane, University of California-Riverside
• Myra Marx Ferree, University of Connecticut
• Steven Nock, University of Virginia

4. Fathers: When Do They Make a Difference?

Lead Speaker: Paul Amato, University of Nebraska

Discussants:

• Jay Belsky, The Pennsylvania State University
• Frank Furstenberg, University of Pennsylvania
• Judith Seltzer, University of Wisconsin

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