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Fathers in the fifties tend to be portrayed as wise and genial pipe-smokers or distant, emotionless patriarchs. This common but limited stereotype obscures the remarkable diversity of their experiences and those of their children. To uncover the real story of fatherhood during this transformative era, Ralph LaRossa takes the long view—from the attack on Pearl Harbor up to the election of John F. Kennedy—revealing the myriad ways that World War II and its aftermath shaped men. Offering compelling accounts of people both ordinary and extraordinary, Of War and Men digs deep into the terrain of fatherhood. LaRossa explores the nature and aftereffects of combat, the culture of fear during the Cold War, the ways that fear altered the lives of racial and sexual minorities, and how the civil rights movement affected families both black and white. Overturning some calcified myths, LaRossa also analyzes the impact of suburbanization on fathers and their kids, discovering that living in the suburbs often strengthened their bond. And finally, looking beyond the idealized dad enshrined in TV sitcoms, Of War and Men explores the brutal side of family life in the postwar years. LaRossa’s richly researched book dismantles stereotypes while offering up a fascinating and incisive chronicle of fatherhood in all its complexity.

LaRossa explores the experience of parenthood from a sociological perspective. He starts from the premise that parenthood is a social construct; that parenthood is a social institution and that parental perceptions of their roles are socially defined. LaRossa then examines how and why the meaning of parenthood has been redefined over time; how the experience of parenthood differs between the sexes and how this difference has evolved.

A sociological study of how the birth of first and second children affects parents. It uses in-depth interviews with 20 couples taken during the third, sixth, and ninth month after the birth of a child, to monitor changes in the marriage, sex-roles, and attitudes of the parents, and to explore the social context in which they occurred. `The authors point out (and this reviewer readily agrees) that several things make this book unique. First, it is grounded in sociological theory...Second, the book is about early parenthood from the parental perspective...Last, the study explores both first- and second-time parenthood.' -- Contemporary Sociology, March 1982, Vol 11 No 2 `This book is unique in many wa

Ralph Lauren is an American original: a business-school dropout from the Bronx who began his career turning rags into ties. Over the past fifty years, Lauren has built one the world's greatest and most recognizable lifestyle brands - one that epitomizes the American Dream. The polo pony is among the few icons instantly recognized across the world. But Lauren himself has always been a mystery. Now, in a memoir that's surprising, humble, unfiltered, funny, and beautifully crafted, he tells his story at last. This rare peek into the mind of one of the most accomplished fashion designers of all time shows how he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the world's most admired businessmen. He tells of the risks he took, the crushing setbacks, the ruthless competitors, and the countless doubters and haters - as well as his many thrilling triumphs, visionary breakthroughs, and the foundational relationships that formed the heart of his brand. Both an artistic and entrepreneurial genius, Ralph Lauren is the quintessential interpreter of American style.

Synopsis coming soon.......

Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible to scholars, students, researchers, and general readers. Rich with historical and cultural value, these works are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. The books offered through Minnesota Archive Editions are produced in limited quantities according to customer demand and are available through select distribution partners.