About our authors Karen Seccombe (Meenan) is a proud community college graduate (Go Citrus!) and a first-generation college student. She has taught in both Sociology and Public Health programs, from the University of Alaska, to the University of Florida, and most recently, Portland State University in Oregon.She received her B.A. in sociology at California State University, Chico; her M.S.W. in health and social welfare policy from the University of Washington; and her Ph.D. in sociology from Washington State University. Karen is the author of Social Problems, with W. Kornblum and J. Julian; “So You Think I Drive a Cadillac?”: Welfare Recipients’ Perspectives on the System and Its Reform; Families and Their Social Worlds; Just Don’t Get Sick: Access to Healthcare in the Aftermath of Welfare Reform, with K. A. Hoffman; and Families in Poverty. She is a fellow of the National Council on Family Relations, and a member of the American Sociological Association and the Pacific Sociological Association, where she has held elective offices.Karen lives in the San Juan Islands, located off the northwest coast of Washington with her husband Richard, a health economist, and her cats Winnie and Zoey. In her spare time, she enjoys playing pickleball, hiking, biking, international travel and hanging out with her pack. Her daughter, Natalie just graduated from college with a degree in Geology and landed an actual job with real benefits! Olivia attends the University of Oregon and studies Art. Go Ducks!

• Part 1: Families and Intimate Relationships Key Concepts Why Study Families and Other Close Relationships?Social Status: Sex, Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Social ClassPart 2: The Foundations of Relationships Building RelationshipsLove and Loving RelationshipsSexual Identity, Behavior and RelationshipsCommunication, Conflict and Power in Our RelationshipsMarriagePart 3: Parents and Their Children Thinking about ParenthoodRaising ChildrenFamilies and the Work They DoPart 4: Family Strengths, Challenges and Reorganization Family Stress and Crisis: Violence among IntimatesThe Process of DivorceFamily Life, Partnering and Remarriage after DivorceFamilies in Middle and Later LifeLooking Ahead: Helping Families Flourish

About our authors Karen Seccombe (Meenan) is a proud community college graduate (Go Citrus!) and a first-generation college student. She has taught in both Sociology and Public Health programs, from the University of Alaska, to the University of Florida, and most recently, Portland State University in Oregon.She received her B.A. in sociology at California State University, Chico; her M.S.W. in health and social welfare policy from the University of Washington; and her Ph.D. in sociology from Washington State University. Karen is the author of Social Problems, with W. Kornblum and J. Julian; “So You Think I Drive a Cadillac?”: Welfare Recipients’ Perspectives on the System and Its Reform; Families and Their Social Worlds; Just Don’t Get Sick: Access to Healthcare in the Aftermath of Welfare Reform, with K. A. Hoffman; and Families in Poverty. She is a fellow of the National Council on Family Relations, and a member of the American Sociological Association and the Pacific Sociological Association, where she has held elective offices.Karen lives in the San Juan Islands, located off the northwest coast of Washington with her husband Richard, a health economist, and her cats Winnie and Zoey. In her spare time, she enjoys playing pickleball, hiking, biking, international travel and hanging out with her pack. Her daughter, Natalie just graduated from college with a degree in Geology and landed an actual job with real benefits! Olivia attends the University of Oregon and studies Art. Go Ducks!

• Part 1: Families and Intimate Relationships Key Concepts Why Study Families and Other Close Relationships?Social Status: Sex, Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Social ClassPart 2: The Foundations of Relationships Building RelationshipsLove and Loving RelationshipsSexual Identity, Behavior and RelationshipsCommunication, Conflict and Power in Our RelationshipsMarriagePart 3: Parents and Their Children Thinking about ParenthoodRaising ChildrenFamilies and the Work They DoPart 4: Family Strengths, Challenges and Reorganization Family Stress and Crisis: Violence among IntimatesThe Process of DivorceFamily Life, Partnering and Remarriage after DivorceFamilies in Middle and Later LifeLooking Ahead: Helping Families Flourish

About our authors Karen Seccombe (Meenan) is a proud community college graduate (Go Citrus!) and a first-generation college student. She has taught in both Sociology and Public Health programs, from the University of Alaska, to the University of Florida, and most recently, Portland State University in Oregon.She received her B.A. in sociology at California State University, Chico; her M.S.W. in health and social welfare policy from the University of Washington; and her Ph.D. in sociology from Washington State University. Karen is the author of Social Problems, with W. Kornblum and J. Julian; “So You Think I Drive a Cadillac?”: Welfare Recipients’ Perspectives on the System and Its Reform; Families and Their Social Worlds; Just Don’t Get Sick: Access to Healthcare in the Aftermath of Welfare Reform, with K. A. Hoffman; and Families in Poverty. She is a fellow of the National Council on Family Relations, and a member of the American Sociological Association and the Pacific Sociological Association, where she has held elective offices.Karen lives in the San Juan Islands, located off the northwest coast of Washington with her husband Richard, a health economist, and her cats Winnie and Zoey. In her spare time, she enjoys playing pickleball, hiking, biking, international travel and hanging out with her pack. Her daughter, Natalie just graduated from college with a degree in Geology and landed an actual job with real benefits! Olivia attends the University of Oregon and studies Art. Go Ducks!

• Part 1: Families and Intimate Relationships Key Concepts Why Study Families and Other Close Relationships?Social Status: Sex, Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Social ClassPart 2: The Foundations of Relationships Building RelationshipsLove and Loving RelationshipsSexual Identity, Behavior and RelationshipsCommunication, Conflict and Power in Our RelationshipsMarriagePart 3: Parents and Their Children Thinking about ParenthoodRaising ChildrenFamilies and the Work They DoPart 4: Family Strengths, Challenges and Reorganization Family Stress and Crisis: Violence among IntimatesThe Process of DivorceFamily Life, Partnering and Remarriage after DivorceFamilies in Middle and Later LifeLooking Ahead: Helping Families Flourish