Red Families V. Blue Families : Legal Polarization and the Creation of Culture

Red Families v. Blue Families identifies a new family model geared for the post-industrial economy. Rooted in the urban middle class, the coasts and the "blue states" in the last three presidential elections, the Blue Family Paradigm emphasizes the importance of women's as well as men's workforce participation, egalitarian gender roles, and the delay of family formation until both parents are emotionally and financially ready. By contrast, the Red Family Paradigm--associated with the Bible Belt, the mountain west, and rural America--rejects these new family norms, viewing the change in moral and sexual values as a crisis. In this world, the prospect of teen childbirth is the necessary deterrent to premarital sex, marriage is a sacred undertaking between a man and a woman, and divorce is society's greatest moral challenge. Yet, the changing economy is rapidly eliminating the stable, blue collar jobs that have historically supported young families, and early marriage and childbearing derail the education needed to prosper. The result is that the areas of the country most committed to traditional values have the highest divorce and teen pregnancy rates, fueling greater calls to reinstill traditional values. Featuring the groundbreaking research first hailed in The New Yorker , this penetrating book will transform our understanding of contemporary American culture and law. The authors show how the Red-Blue divide goes much deeper than this value system conflict--the Red States have increasingly said "no" to Blue State legal norms, and, as a result, family law has been rent in two. The authors close with a consideration of where these different family systems still overlap, and suggest solutions that permit rebuilding support for both types of families in changing economic circumstances. Incorporating results from the 2008 election, Red Families v. Blue Families will reshape the debate surrounding the culture wars and the emergence of red and blue America. [this Book] Identifies A New Family Model Geared For The Post-industrial Economy. Rooted In The Urban Middle Class, The Coasts And The Blue States In The Last Three Presidential Elections, The Blue Family Paradigm Emphasizes The Importance Of Women's As Well As Men's Workforce Participation, Egalitarian Gender Roles, And The Delay Of Family Formation Until Both Parents Are Emotionally And Financially Ready. By Contrast, The Red Family Paradigm--associated With The Bible Belt, The Mountain West, And Rural America--rejects These New Family Norms, Viewing The Change In Moral And Sexual Values As A Crisis. In This World, The Prospect Of Teen Childbirth Is The Necessary Deterrent To Premarital Sex, Marriage Is A Sacred Undertaking Between A Man And A Woman, And Divorce Is Society's Greatest Moral Challenge. Yet, The Changing Economy Is Rapidly Eliminating The Stable, Blue Collar Jobs That Have Historically Supported Young Families, And Early Marriage And Childbearing Derail The Education Needed To Prosper. The Result Is That The Areas Of The Country Most Committed To Traditional Values Have The Highest Divorce And Teen Pregnancy Rates, Fueling Greater Calls To Reinstill Traditional Values. [this Book] Will Transform Our Understanding Of Contemporary American Culture And Law. The Authors Show How The Red-blue Divide Goes Much Deeper Than This Value System Conflict--the Red States Have Increasingly Said No To Blue State Legal Norms, And, As A Result, Family Law Has Been Rent In Two. The Authors Close With A Consideration Of Where These Different Family Systems Still Overlap, And Suggest Solutions That Permit Rebuilding Support For Both Types Of Families In Changing Economic Circumstances. Incorporating Results From The 2008 Election, Red Families V. Blue Families Will Reshape The Debate Surrounding The Culture Wars And The Emergence Of Red And Blue America.--publisher Description. Moral Demography -- Sexual History -- The Age Of Division -- Personality, Politics, And Religion -- Contraception: Securing The Pathways To Blue Family Life -- Abortion And The Cognitive Map -- The Irrationality Of Adolescence: What The Adults Are Really Fighting Over -- The Marrying Laws -- Custody And Compromise -- Marriage Advice In Shades Of Pink -- Making Ready For Baby: Painting The Nursery Sky Blue -- Work And Family : Retooling The Foundation In Deep Purple. Naomi Cahn And June Carbone. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "... Identifies a new family model geared for the post-industrial economy. Rooted in the urban middle class, the coasts and the "blue states" in the last three presidential elections, the Blue Family Paradigm emphasizes the importance of women's as well as men's workforce participation, egalitarian gender roles, and the delay of family formation until both parents are emotionally and financially ready. By contrast, the Red Family Paradigm--associated with the Bible Belt, the mountain west, and rural America--rejects these new family norms, viewing the change in moral and sexual values as a crisis. In this world, the prospect of teen childbirth is the necessary deterrent to premarital sex, marriage is a sacred undertaking between a man and a woman, and divorce is society's greatest moral challenge. Yet, the changing economy is rapidly eliminating the stable, blue collar jobs that have historically supported young families, and early marriage and childbearing derail the education needed to prosper. The result is that the areas of the country most committed to traditional values have the highest divorce and teen pregnancy rates, fueling greater calls to reinstill traditional values. [This book] will transform our understanding of contemporary American culture and law. The authors show how the Red-Blue divide goes much deeper than this value system conflict--the Red States have increasingly said "no" to Blue State legal norms, and, as a result, family law has been rent in two. The authors close with a consideration of where these different family systems still overlap, and suggest solutions that permit rebuilding support for both types of families in changing economic circumstances. Incorporating results from the 2008 election, Red Families v. Blue Families will reshape the debate surrounding the culture wars and the emergence of red and blue America."-- Couverture page [4] Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 12 PART ONE: FAMILY MAPS......Page 28 ONE: Moral Demography......Page 30 TWO: Sexual History......Page 44 THREE: The Age of Division......Page 58 FOUR: Personality, Politics, and Religion......Page 71 PART TWO: THE LEGAL MAP......Page 86 FIVE: Contraception: Securing the Pathways to Blue Family Life......Page 88 SIX: Abortion, Law and the Cognitive Map......Page 103 SEVEN: The Irrationality of Adolescence: What the Adults Are Really Fighting Over......Page 117 EIGHT: The Marrying Laws......Page 128 NINE: Custody and Compromise......Page 150 PART THREE: THE MAP TO THE FUTURE......Page 164 TEN: Marriage Advice in Shades of Pink......Page 166 ELEVEN: Making Ready for Baby: Painting the Nursery Sky Blue......Page 181 TWELVE: Work and Family: Retooling the Foundation in Deep Purple......Page 201 Conclusion......Page 217 Notes......Page 222 A......Page 280 B......Page 281 C......Page 283 D......Page 285 F......Page 286 H......Page 287 L......Page 288 M......Page 289 N......Page 291 O......Page 292 P......Page 293 R......Page 294 S......Page 295 T......Page 296 V......Page 297 W......Page 298 Y......Page 299 Oxford University Press, USA Contents 6 Introduction 12 PART ONE: FAMILY MAPS 28 ONE: Moral Demography 30 TWO: Sexual History 44 THREE: The Age of Division 58 FOUR: Personality, Politics, and Religion 71 PART TWO: THE LEGAL MAP 86 FIVE: Contraception: Securing the Pathways to Blue Family Life 88 SIX: Abortion, Law and the Cognitive Map 103 SEVEN: The Irrationality of Adolescence: What the Adults Are Really Fighting Over 117 EIGHT: The Marrying Laws 128 NINE: Custody and Compromise 150 PART THREE: THE MAP TO THE FUTURE 164 TEN: Marriage Advice in Shades of Pink 166 ELEVEN: Making Ready for Baby: Painting the Nursery Sky Blue 181 TWELVE: Work and Family: Retooling the Foundation in Deep Purple 201 Conclusion 217 Notes 222 Index 280 A 280 B 281 C 283 D 285 E 286 F 286 G 287 H 287 I 288 J 288 K 288 L 288 M 289 N 291 O 292 P 293 R 294 S 295 T 296 U 297 V 297 W 298 Y 299 0195372174,9780195372175 Moral demography Sexual history The age of division Personality, politics and religion Contraception: securing the pathways to blue family life Abortion and the cognitive map The irrationality of adolescence: what the adults are really fighting over The marrying laws Custody and compromise Making ready for the baby: controlling fertility Marriage advice Transitions : pathways to adulthood and to work/family balance.