When Couples Become Parents: The Creation of Gender in the Transition to Parenthood

‘Fox beautifully captures the remarkable changes occurring in women’s, and to a lesser extent, men’s lives and relationships upon the birth of a baby. Throughout, she masterfully portrays respondents’ stories of the emotional and practical transformation of life post-baby… Fox has greatly advanced the literature on gender and parenting through When Couples Become Parents.’ Melissa A. Milkie, Canadian Journal of Sociology: vol36:01:11

‘Fox does a superb job of tracing the changing amount and type of care that men and women provide for each other throughout the transitional period to parenthood … Scholars interested in parenthood and gender will appreciate the strong methodology, nuanced analysis, and theoretical contributions of the study … In addition by highlighting the importance of how career accomplishments and economic resources can shape a couple’s negotiation of family responsibilities, Fox illuminates important work-family intersections.’ Medora W. Barnes, Journal of Marriage and Family: vol73: February2011

‘When Couples become Parents offers many interesting insights that support, refute, or perhaps further refine theoretical concepts central to the sociology of gender and of the family. Fox offers a refreshing focus on how gender can be “undone”.’ Barbara J. Risman, American Journal of Sociology: vol116:03:10