Helena Znaniecka Lopata is Professor of Sociology at Loyola University of Chicago. She has written many books including Current Widowhood: Myths and Realities, and coedited Friendship in Context.

"Many authors give lip service to the impact of subcultural contexts on family life. Very, very few, however, hold these variables firmly in mind the way Lopata does throughout her discussion. The symbolic interactionist approach to describing and explaining women's roles makes it possible to think in terms of behaviors, expectations, tasks, social interaction, and contexts in a cohesive manner. Lopata understands this and presents these ideas extremely well." — Catherine A. Surra, University of Texas as Austin

• Preface1. Social Roles of American Women Social Role as a Set of Social RelationsRole StrainThe Role of Cluster and Social Life SpaceThe Location of Social Roles in Social SystemsThe Life Course of Role Involvements of American WomenSocial Psychological Aspects of Role InvolvementCommitmentSummary2. The Role of Wife Traditional Times, Traditional PlacesThe Transitional Form of the Role of WifeClass DifferencesWorking-Class WivesMiddle-Class WivesThe Two-Person Single CareerMiddle-Class Black WivesUpper-Class WivesThe Modern Form of the Role of WifeIndices of ChangeThe Negotiated Marriage: Rights and DutiesThe Life Course of the Role of WifeThe Social Psychology of Role InvolvementThe Ex-Wife or WidowReentry into the Role of WifeSummary3. The Role of Mother Preventing or Insuring the Role of MotherTraditional Times, Traditional PlacesTransitional and Modern Forms of the Role of MotherThe Life Course of the Role of MotherBecoming a MotherTraumatic Events in Becoming a MotherBeing a MotherThe Older MotherMotherhood in RetrospectSocial-Class Variations in the Role of MotherMothers of the UnderclassWorking-Class MothersMiddle-Class MothersMothers of the Upper ClassOther Variations in the Role of MotherRaising SonsThe Role of Mother in Divorce and WidowhoodMothers-in-LawStepmothers and Foster MothersSociopsychological Aspects of Role InvolvementSummary4. Social Roles in Kinship Networks World Revolution in Kinship Salience?The Transitional Form of Kin NetworksKin Member and Kin KeeperThe Modern Form of Kinship NetworksDaughterThe Traditional Form of the Role of DaughterThe Transitional Form of the Role of DaughterThe Life Course of the Role of DaughterThe Dependent DaughterThe Adult Daughter of Aging ParentsThe Modern Form of the Role of DaughterThe Role of Daughter-in-LawSisterGrandmotherTraditional Times, Traditional PlacesTransitional and Modern Forms of the Role of GrandmotherThe Social Psychology of GrandmotheringSummary5. Occupation: Homemaker Traditional Times, Traditional PlacesThe Transitional Form of the Role of HomemakerStereotypesThe Life Course of the Role of HomemakerBecoming a HomemakerThe Expanding CircleThe Peak StageThe Full-House PlateauThe Shrinking CircleThe Part-Time HomemakerHomemaking and Household CompositionSociopsychological Aspects of Role InvolvementSentiments and Self-ImagesThe Homemaker and Her HomeThe Homemaker as a Link Between Home and SocietyThe Moderm Form of the Role of HomemakerSummary6. The Job: Settings and Circles The Entrepreneurial or Self-Employed WomanWorking for Someone Else, The Role of EmployeeSociopsychological Aspects of Role InvolvementSettings: Home-Based WorkThe Beneficiary's TerritoryThe Beneficiary's Home as the SettingThe Beneficiary's Job SettingOrganizational SettingsFactoriesMen's PrisonsLong Distance TrucksStores, Restaurants, and AirplanesOfficesClerical WorkersManagers and ProfessionalsMultiple SettingsSummary7. Social Roles in the Rest of the World StudentAn Example of the Effects of Schooling in Transitional TimesThe Role of Student at ReentryFriendSame-Gender and Cross-Gender FriendshipsCouple Companionate FriendshipNeighborThe Transitional Form of the Role of NeighborThe Modern Form of the Role of NeighborRoles in CommunitiesMember of Voluntary AssociationsMember in Reform or Revolutionary MovementsSummary8. Life Spaces and Self-Concepts Role ConflictRole Conflict within the Family InstitutionConflict between Family Roles and Those in Other Institutional DimensionsSocietal Solutions to Role Conflicts of WomenRole-Conflict Solutions by WomenThe Complexity of Social Life SpacesSociopsychological Aspects of Social Life SpacesConclusionsNotesReferencesIndex