Divorce, Families and Emotion Work

"This book is a carefully researched, clearly written, very important contribution to our understanding of divorce." --Arlie Hochschild, University of California, USA

"This rich, evidence-informed narrative provides a frank, 'up close and personal' portrait of the aftermath of marriage dissolution." -- Mary Corcoran, Maynooth University, Ireland

"Moore throws a welcome light on the moral identities and gendered inequalities of parenting after separation." -- Rosalind Edwards, University of Southampton, UK

This book focuses on parental commitment to family life after divorce, in contrast to its common perception as an irrevocable breaking up of the family unit, which is often perpetuated by representations from popular culture and the media. In the first detailed review of emotions and emotion work undertaken by divorced parents, the author sheds light on how parents manage feelings of guilt, fear, on-going anger and everyday unhappiness in the course of family life post-divorce. Moore demonstrates how the emotional dimension of divorce is shaped by societal and structural factors and requires parents to undertake considerable emotion work in the creation of new moral identities. The book points to the often gendered responsibilities for sustaining family lives post separation, and how these reflect extensive inequalities in family practices. The author concludes that divorce is not dangerous for society; it is not a social evil or a demonstration of the rise of selfish individualism, and that divorcees remain committed to former partners and children long after divorce.

This book will be of interest to scholars and students in the areas of Sociology, Psychology, Family Studies, Social Policy, Social Work and Law.

„Aceasta carte este o contributie foarte importanta cercetata cu atentie, scrisa in mod clar, foarte importanta la intelegerea divortului”. --Arlie Hochschild, Universitatea din California, SUA „Aceasta naratiune bogata, bazata pe dovezi, ofera un portret franc,„ de aproape si personal ”, al urmelor dizolvarii casatoriei.” - Mary Corcoran, Universitatea Maynooth, Irlanda „Moore arunca o lumina binevenita asupra identitatilor morale si a inegalitatilor de gen ale parintilor dupa separare”. - Rosalind Edwards, Universitatea din Southampton, Marea Britanie Aceasta carte se concentreaza pe angajamentul parintilor fata de viata de familie dupa divort, spre deosebire de perceptia sa comuna ca o despartire irevocabila a unitatii familiale, care este adesea perpetuata de reprezentari din cultura populara si din mass-media.