Readings On No Fault Divorce

Dissolution is a new word for divorce. In Dissolution, Riane Eisler discusses the fundamental societal and litigious changes of divorce from an action that was until recently an unacceptable social phenomenon to what is now commonplace. The book compares the old divorce laws based on marital fault with new "no-fault" divorce laws, an analysis of the laws and institutions of marriage and divorce, and alternatives (social and litigious) to marriage and divorce. Quotes about Dissolution: "Dissolution is must reading for every woman...whether she already believes in equal rights for all beings or belongs to the Phyllis Schlafly school of thought. Riane Eisler's work is the most definitive yet on the female species and her rights." – Rona Barrett, Good Morning America, ABC-TV "Only those of us who have gone through divorce without your book can fully appreciate its value. Its factual information gives strength. Its innate empathy comforts. Its totality is an integral part of the body of great feminist writings." – Frances Lear, President, Lear Purvis Walker & Co.

Since 1970, all the states adopted no-fault divorce statutes, which have had the unexpected effect of producing dire financial conditions for many divorced women and their children. In this important study, economist and lawyer Allen Parkman shows how no-fault divorce has systematically operated against the interests of these women and children. With rare economic and legal insight, Parkman argues that by changing the grounds for divorce without changing the laws that define and allocate property at divorce, the legal system created substantial injustices. The key mistake, he suggests, was in accepting a definition of property that did not include the income-earning capacity--human capital--of the individuals involved. Using human capital theory, Parkman criticizes current divorce law and presents a framework for reform that would reduce the injustices introduced by no-fault divorce. He concludes that a thorough reform, however, may require the changing of the grounds for divorce to mutual consent. This book is essential reading for scholars, professionals, and, indeed, for anyone interested in the health and future of the family and the well-being of women in contemporary U.S. society.

Every time we talk with people we are trying to influence their behavior, and they are trying to influence ours. The words we use, the way we dress and move, are all ways to seek to control one another. Though we may make these attempts unknowingly, they leave us open to dangerous manipulation. People-Reading will teach you how to listen and what to look for in yourself and those around you, so you can identify underlying hidden motives, expectations, and fears. By reading these hidden messages you can avoid their damaging effects.

While the formal definition of divorce may be concise and straightforward (legal termination of a marital union, dissolving bonds of matrimony between parties), the effects are anything but, particularly when children are involved. The Americans for Divorce Reform estimates that "40 or possibly even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue." Outside the U.S., divorce rates have markedly increased across developed countries. Divorce and its effects are a significant social factor in our culture and others. It might be said that a whole "divorce industry" has been constructed, with divorce lawyers and mediators, family counselors, support groups, etc. As King Henry VIII′s divorces showed, divorce has not always been easy or accepted. In some countries, divorce is not permitted and even in Europe, countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland legalized divorce only in the latter quarter of the 20th century. This multi-disciplinary encyclopedia covers curricular subjects related to divorce as examined by disciplines ranging from marriage and the family to anthropology, social and legal history, developmental and clinical psychology, and religion, all through a lens of cultural sociology. Features: 550 signed entries, A-to-Z, fill 3 volumes (1,500 pages) in print and electronic formats, offering the most detailed reference work available on issues related to divorce, both in the U.S. and globally. Cross-References and Further Readings guide readers to additional resources. A Chronology provides students with context via a historical perspective of divorce. In the electronic version, the comprehensive Index combines with Cross-References and thematic Reader′s Guide themes to provide convenient search-and-browse capabilities. For state and nation entries, uniform entry structure combined with an abundance of statistics facilitates comparison between and across states and nations. Appendices provide further annotated sources of data and statistics.