Shelley A. Haddock

Images of Couples and Families in Disney Feature-Length Animated Films

Media have the potential to serve as sources of information regarding couples and families for many children. One of the more popular forms of childrens media is the Disney animated featurelength movie. To date, no research has examined images of couples and families in a wide sampling of Disney feature-length animated films. This study was designed to identify themes about couples and families portrayed in 26 Disney animated classics and recently released movies. In general, four overarching themes were identified: (a) family relationships are a strong priority, (b) families are diverse, but the diversity is often simplified, (c) fathers are elevated, while mothers are marginalized, and (d) couple relationships are created by “love at first sight,” are easily maintained, and are often characterized by gender-based power differentials. Clinical implications for family professionals are addressed.

Therapists' Approaches to the Normative Challenges of Dual-Earner Couples

Abstract The majority of American couples with minor children are dual-earners, and research indicates that, in general, the members of these families are thriving. Yet, outdated societal ideologies and practices place stressors on these families. Dual-earner couples, particularly working mothers, may experience guilt and/or concern about their family arrangement. Additionally, these couples may experience tensions in renegotiating gender expectations. A national, random sample of clinical members of AAMFT was surveyed to find out how family therapists are responding to the normative challenges of dual-earner couples in therapy. Results suggest that many therapists are unaware of the related empirical literature regarding the benefits and challenges of dual-earner families. Further, many therapists remain unaware of how the societal context often promotes guilt and inequity among todays couples. Implications for family therapists are discussed, including the need for therapists to become more familiar with recent research about dual-earner families, equality in intimate partnerships, and child care.

Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length AnimatedFilms

Abstract The Disney Corporation is one of the largest media companies in the world. Disneys full-length animated films have been a popular form of childrens entertainment for more than 60 years. No research to date has examined the portrayals of the organizing societal principles of gender, race, age, and sexual orientation across a wide sample of these films. This study examines the portrayal of these organizing principles in a sample of 26 full-length animated Disney films. Findings indicate that gender, racial, and cultural stereotypes have persisted over time in Disney films. Few examples of positive portrayals emerged, but were increasingly common in later films. Marginalized groups were portrayed negatively, rarely, or not at all. Clinical implications for therapists are provided.

Benefits and Challenges of Dual-Earning: Perspectives of Successful Couples

The purpose of this study was to discover the benefits and challenges derived from the dual-earner lifestyle for couples who successfully balance family and work. The data for the study are part of a larger data set drawn primarily from in-depth interviews with 47 couples. While the intent of the overall project was to discover the adaptive strategies that these couples utilized at home and work to successfully balance family and work, this paper focuses specifically on the couples’ perceived benefits and challenges of dual earning. Many therapists harbor negative and stereotypical assumptions of the quality of dual-earner family life and appear to believe there are inevitable and significant challenges that are intrinsic to the dual-earner family arrangement (Haddock & Bowling, 2001), but the findings of this study are helpful in providing a more balanced, informed view of the possibilities of this family arrangement.

The Parenting Practices of Dual-Earner Couples ho Successfully Balance Family and work

Abstract This study investigated the parenting practices of middle class, dual-earner couples (N =s 47) who perceive themselves as successful in balancing family and work. Analysis of interview data revealed that couples used four primary strategies in balancingfamily and work: (a) striving to be equally involved parents, (b) working to clar-Shelley ify their values related to parenting, (c) being available and attentive to their children while also spending time as a couple and individually, and (d) utilizing the support of extended family and workplaces. These parenting practices run counter to common societal stereotypes regarding dualearners. Clinical applications for therapists and parent educators of dual-earner couples are offered. [Article copies available for a fee

Barriers and Bridges to Intimacy and Mutuality: A Critical Review of Sexual Advice Found in Self-Help Bestsellers

Sexuality in a committed relationship is based ideally on both intimacy and mutuality. Gender socialization may limit womens and mens capacities in these two important areas of sexual relationships. This article describes the results of a content analysis of nine best-selling popular press books on the New York Times Bestseller List between 1988 and 1998 according to their advice related to sexual intimacy and mutuality. Books were analyzed to determine the degree to which they built “barriers” or “bridges” to the development of intimacy and mutuality. Results indicate that while most authors offered advice that built bridges to intimacy, several built barriers to the development of mutuality. Implications for therapists are discussed.

Time-Limited, Structured Youth Mentoring and Adolescent Problem Behaviors.

Youth mentoring can have a profound impact on the lives of high-risk youth. This study presents the Campus Corps program, a time-limited (12-week), structured mentoring program for high-risk youth (ages 11–18), and results from a quasi-experimental pilot evaluation. Baseline and post-intervention problem behavior data from 315 offending youth were used in multiple regression analyses. After accounting for baseline group differences, pre-intervention scores, and demographic covariates, Campus Corps participants (n = 187, 63.1% male) reported less engagement in problem behavior, lower acceptance of problem behavior, and a greater sense of autonomy from marijuana use post-intervention than participants in the comparison condition (n = 128, 66.4% male). Conversely, post-intervention group differences were not observed for peer refusal skills or autonomy from alcohol use. A description of the Campus Corps program design and supplemental preliminary findings contribute to the growing knowledge base of youth mentoring program designs and outcomes.

A Content Analysis of Articles Pertaining to Therapeutic Considerations for Dual-Income Couples (1979-1999)

The majority of American couples with minor children are dual-earners, and research indicates that, in general, the members of these families are thriving. Yet, outdated societal ideologies and practices place stressors on these families, giving rise to a need for effective treatment approaches for these stressors. A content analysis of seven major family therapy journals over approximately twenty years (1979-1999) was conducted on the applied articles related to dual-income couples. Only nine articles provided an applied focus on the topic. The article describes the content of these articles, specifically the descriptors of dual-income couples, their common problems, the benefits of the dual-income family arrangement, and suggested interventions. Many of the articles portrayed descriptions of these families that are inconsistent with empirical research; however, their emphasis on the importance of equitable division of labor and freedom from restrictive gender expectations is consistent with this research.

Portrayals of Single Women in the Self-Help Literature

The purpose of this research was to identify current messages about single women in self-help literature. Feminist and social constructionist theoretical perspectives guided the study and a constant comparison analysis was conducted to identify the dominant themes about single women in the literature. Six overarching themes emerged: Singlehood as a Positive Aspect of Life, Stereotypes of Single Women, Medias Depictions of Single Women, Difficulties being Single, Perceived Reasons for Singlehood, and Commentary on Singlehood and Aloneness. These themes were organized into a total of 33 sub-themes. A discussion of the meanings and implications of these results for professionals is presented.

Mentor Response to Youth Academic Support–Seeking Behavior

Mentoring-based interventions for adolescent offenders are promising strategies for reducing the likelihood of academic underachievement, truancy, and school dropout. Program effectiveness, however, varies widely. Investigation into factors that strengthen the impact of mentoring on academic-related outcomes is warranted. One factor might be academic attunement, or the degree to which a mentor’s emphasis on academics is consistent with youth’s academic support–seeking behavior and desire for academic help. This within-group study examined the relationship between mentor attunement and academic outcomes among youth (N = 204; ages 11-18; 54.5% male) who participated in a time-limited mentoring program. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct groups: attuned mentors, overfocused mentors, and underfocused mentors. In general, youth with attuned mentors reported better postintervention scores as compared with youth with misattuned (i.e., overfocused or underfocused) mentors on perception of school usefulness and importance, academic self-efficacy, and truancy, but not grade point average. Findings suggest the importance of monitoring academic attunement.