Hard Choices - (California Social Choice and Political Economy) by Kathleen Gerson (Paperback)

About the Book

"A clear, well-crafted, and convincing account of the account of the complex 'push-pulls' that affect women's life choices about work and motherhood. It therefore fills a unique niche: there are no books like this one that I know of, yet it touches on one of the most fundamental issues addressed by those who are interested in women's studies."--Kristin Luker

Book Synopsis

How do women choose between work and family commitments? And what are the causes, limits, and consequences of the "subtle revolution" in women's choices over the 1960s and 1970s? To answer these questions, Kathleen Gerson analyzes the experiences of a carefully selected group of middle-class and working-class women who were young adults in the 1970s. Their informative life histories reveal the emerging social forces in American society that have led today's women to face several difficult choices.

From the Back Cover

A clear, well-crafted, and convincing account of the account of the complex 'push-pulls' that affect women's life choices about work and motherhood. It therefore fills a unique niche: there are no books like this one that I know of, yet it touches on one of the most fundamental issues addressed by those who are interested in women's studies.--Kristin Luker

Review Quotes

"A scrupulously objective study of the way women make decisions about work . . . refreshing because she focuses on women as social actors, constructing their lives in response to a range of opportunities and restraints."--"Psychology Today

About the Author

Kathleen Gerson is Professor of Sociology, New York University.