Families and Relationships

This chapter will focus on issues and challenges women and men face in developing relationships, both within the family, and with peers and romantic partners. Unique gender roles that girls and boys are socialized into playing (e.g., peacemaker, caretaker, provider) will be described, as well as related clinical issues, including relationship satisfaction, the role of self-esteem, and the impact of families of origin on consequent relationships. Unique gender oriented issues in relationships will be described, such as self-objectification (process of internalizing others’ perceptions of one’s physical self) for girls and gender intensification (renewed influence of masculinity) for boys. Gender and family roles also will be presented, highlighting the critical notion that both men and women can become “trapped” in traditionally expected roles. Finally, the impact of race/ethnicity will be presented, for example, unique family roles that are culturally imbued (e.g.., Latina women as being socialized to give todo para la familia/everything for the family).