“Family law represents the intersection of two of the most pervasive and fundamental institutions in our society. Not surprisingly then, the confusions and contradictions that characterize contemporary family life, including those that relate to men’s and women’s “proper” familial roles, tend to be reflected in family law. Moreover, because legislative statutes and judicial decisions reflect the particular culture from which they arise, a thorough understanding of men’s legal rights and responsibilities within the family requires not only an appreciation of the family and legal systems in relation to one another, but also in relation to their broader sociohistorical context. As such, the legal institution has become a prime testing ground for the ever-evolving cultural definitions of marriage, parenthood, and family. This review of the role of law in the family life of men brings together a number of divergent state and federal laws, as well as court decisions. Such diversity in the sources of family law has left it open to a number of conflicting interpretations by legal professionals and others. Given this great latitude of interpretation, gender bias has become entrenched as one of family law’s most prominent governing influences….” – Publisher’s description
