The twentieth century has been a time of immense change in virtually every facet of human life in the West. This edited volume examines how marriage, and how we theorize about marriage, has been transformed. The essays included emphasize the need for new theory, research, and practice to take a more multifaceted and diverse perspective on marriage, divorce, and human pair-bonding in general into the twenty-first century.

• Addresses shifting marital trends, specifically looking at divorce, rather than death, as the endpoint of marriage


• Investigates the process whereby marriage and intimate relations moved into the purview of science and scientific study


• Explores the increasing proliferation of marriage counseling, and makes recommendations and predictions for the practice of couples therapy in the future


• Looks at the impact of feminist beliefs and values on marriage, research, and treatment


• Examines the legacy of slavery and pervasive racism, as well as contemporary social and economic factors, as influences on African American marriage and gender roles