To Have and to Hold : Marriage, the Baby Boom, and Social Change

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating social inquiry
Review: Most people believe the feminist revolution of the 1970s was the force that helped women re-draw the boundaries of family relationships, but this incisive exploration of the of baby-boomers' parents reveals the seeds of change were sown in the 1950s. History professor Jessica Weiss' book is a work of rigorous academic research, yet her lively and conversational style makes it enjoyable reading for anyone. Weiss explodes the myths of 1950s conformity showing how the dramatic social changes of the latter 20th century began with the more subtle shifts of the '50s. And she doesn't simply spin theories -- she updates a study that traced families starting the in 1950s, so we can hear the words of women facing the challenge of evolving roles.

To Have and To Hold starts with an exploration of how youthful marriage and early childbearing led to a redefinition of marital roles and goes on to consider how working women influenced the family's balance of power. Later chapters examine fatherhood, the quest for family togetherness, and the impact of divorce. And there's a fascinating evaluation of myths propagated by magazines with a sharp-eyed juxtaposition to what was really going on. Weiss even takes on Freidan's classic "Feminine Mystique" showing where it was on target and where it oversimplified issues. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a fuller understanding of how the great social quakes of our time have affected our families.