remarriage and reorganization

How do second marriages compare to first marriages?? Discuss courtship patterns, gender differences, preparation, motivation, and stability in re-marriage


Second marriages have alot more stresses than first marriages. The blending of the new families and the old ones can create many difficult issues. Second marriages have a less chance of survival because of the lack of stability and motivation. With the changes for the children come changes for the new family. The lack of stability comes from the fact that women have a different motivation sometimes than the man. Sometimes couples might rush into the new marriage to quickly, not giving themselves time to heal from the last marriage. Women sometimes take more time to heal emotionally from the old marriage than the man.

Divorce and Uncoupling

b.) Compare the research presented on "her" divorce and "his" divorce. What do you think accounts for the gendered differences in this regard??

Both men and women have negative experiences while going through a divorce, but I believe that women experience more hardships than men. Women experience a great economic loss from the divorce, do to the fact that society has this standard set that men should make more than women. Also women experience a greater economic loss because they generally are the ones to take over the responsibilities of the kids. And with the lack of resources available to divorced women and fathers owing in child support, the economic loss can be even greater. Men on the other hand often experience a greater sense of lonliness and loss. Men often feel lonely because society has taught them to not be emotional and expressive, so they have no way to share their feelings or get their feelings out. A man might also experience a greater sense of loss if him and his ex wife decide to split custody. Even though the father is able to interact with his child, he may miss being apart of their day, everyday.

Violence and intimate relationships

Do songs like the Dixie Chicks' "Good-bye Earl" increase awareness of the problem of domestic violence, or do they do a disservice to those who want to raise the social consciousness regarding this problem? Explain your answer.

I think that many songs can help raise awareness to the issues of domestic violence. I think that Martina McBride is a wonderful artist and helps raise awareness to many issues including spousal abuse and child abuse. Her song, " Concrete Angel", is a beautiful song written about a young girl who is abused by her parents and how no one knows until its to late and she dies. Another song written by her, " Independence Day", is another great one talking about a girls mother that is abused by her husband and the childs point of view with the violence that is happening in the home. The only thing that I wish artists would consider would be, writing from the perspective of the abused rather than the abuser. Instead of blaming the victim in the song, and saying that she chose that person such as in the Dixie Chicks' "Good-bye Earl", " Well it wasn't two weeks
after she got married that, Wanda started gettin' abused". Why not point out the standards of that relationship.