"When The Future of Marriage
was first published it was immediately acclaimed as
a classic contribution to the literature of marriage
and of sex roles. In it, the eminent sociologist
Jessie Bernard argued that in ever marriage there
are actually two marriages—his and hers—and that
sociological data reveals that marriage is more
beneficial for men than for women. The institution
of marriage will survive, asserted Bernard, but only
to the extent that attention is paid to the features
that make it a less attractive option for women than
for men.
In a new edition of this pioneering work, Bernard
provides a fresh introduction and update showing
what has changed and what has remained the same
since her book was first published. Bernard’s
discussion of the evolution in marital behavior,
perspective, and knowledge in the last decade
underscores the relevance of her initial study; the
disparity between his and her marriages, hotly
debated when it was first proposed, is now a basic
assumption in our thinking.
As Bernard predicted, couples today are struggling
to improve the institution of marriage for both
participants, by working out dual careers, shared
parenthood, and a combination of personal autonomy
and family cooperation. The Future of Marriage
remains an essential resource—to those who are
studying the family and those who are creating one."
