Reconsidering the Dual-Career Marriage A Longitudinal Approach

Abstract

THE topic of dual-career families has been approached by numerous researchers since the publication of Rapoport and Rapoport's (1969) pioneering work. Most have utilized a cross-sectional research design. This article attempts to add a longitudinal dimension by reporting data collected in 1977 from 45 professional women who were originally interviewed in 1969. Their career and family patterns are investigated in terms of the family life cycle proposed by Duvall (1971) and a fourfold typology introduced here. It appears that the professional careers of these women have been influenced to some extent by marriage, but to a considerable extent by the presence of children. Many of the respondents voiced the opinion that while combining a professional career, marriage, and motherhood is very appealing in ideal terms, in reality it may require a "superwoman" to do so in the face of current American cultural norms.

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