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This final assignment focuses on domestic violence, and Divorce, Remarriage, and Stepfamilies.  The resources you will use include: Chapter 12:  “Union Dissolution and Partnering” in your textbook, the article by Coltrane and Collins on blackboard on “Uncoupling-Recoupling, divorce, and Remarriage,” which we discussed in class;  the article by Hetherinton and Stanley-Hagan, “the Adjustment of Children with Divorced Parents:  A Risk and Resiliency Perspective” on blackboard. the article by Kathleen Ferraro, “Battered Women:  Strategies for Survival,” on blackboard; and the article by Jennifer Gonnerman, “The Unforgiven,” also on blackboard. 

You are to answer all of the following questions, and the total point value for the assignment is 15 points.  This assignment should be turned in to me through blackboard by December 10.

1. (a) Kathleen Ferraro’s article details the stages that women experience as they face domestic abuse.  What are these stages, and what are the emotions that the women experience over time?   (b) On blackboard, you will find Jennifer Gonnerman’s article about Shelley, a victim of sustained violent abuse by her partner/husband,  Relate the stages in the Gonnerman article to the stages in Kathleen Ferraro’s article. 
2. In class we discussed the Violence Against Women Act, originally passed more than 25 years ago.  On blackboard, there is a summary of the VAWA published in 2019–it has had several renewals over the years.  (a) Using this summary discuss the kinds of services that this truly revolutionary legislation provides for women.  Many students also watched the video featuring a presentation by President- Elect (then Vice President) Joe Biden on the evolution of this legislation, which he introduced in Congress. (b)  What are some of the challenges, both emotional and practical,  women face as they move toward the choice to leave their abusers?   What provisions within the VAWA provide them with the resources they need to get out of their situation?
3. When is divorce most likely to happen?  The rates of divorce vary by race and social class.  We discussed this early in the semester when we discussed social class, and both your textbook and the Coltrane Collins article provide information as well.  Describe the differences in rates between social classes, and race/ethnicity. 
4. Economics is a very basic motivator in a marriage.  How do economics affect rates of divorce? 
5. Women are more frequently the ones that initiate divorce.  This seems counter-intuitive, especially given that women especially in the past have been more dependent on their partners for support.  Why do women seek divorces?  Why do men seek divorces? 
6. In class, I discussed the findings from Hetherington’s book, for Better or For Worse, which is based on a longitudinal study of divorces couples and their children.  From that discussion,  are women more likely to be divorce “winners” than   divorce” “losers” over the longer term?  What kinds of resources do women rely on to get them through the post-divorce period?
7. In their article on the adjustment of children with divorced parents, Hetherington and Stanley-Hagan look at recent findings on the adjustment of children from divorced homes.  They are particularly interested in risk and resiliency factors that affect children’s short and long-term adjustment.  Using that article answer the following questions:  (a) Though the period immediately following divorce is full of anxiety and depression, how to children cope with their situation over time?  Are the effects of divorce likely to affect them as they become adults?  (c) However, there are situations where divorce can have positive outcomes.  What are these situations?  (d) Age, gender, and personality have been studied as characteristics that affect children’s ability to cope with divorce.  Discuss each of these briefly.
8. What is the role of fathers in the adjustment of children to divorce?  Do fathers matter? 
9. In the final section of the article, the authors provide “Answers to Our Questions.”  Overall, what conclusions do they reach about divorce and its effects on families and children? 

Don’t do this one

Your answer to these questions counts for two bonus points for your grade.  

1.  Please indicate at the bottom of this test the number of times you have been absent from class.

2.  During the semester you have worked with groups.  Indicate your evaluation of your group’s effectiveness during the semester, and if you have group members who have not been present, please indicate that as well.  I have been keeping track of absences, but there is so much coming in and out of the online sessions that this has been difficult.  While missing one or two classes is understandable and sometimes unavoidable, your participation is part of the grade.