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[Truncated abstract] The 1974 Indonesian Marriage Law required all divorces to be ratified by courts and vested household leadership with husbands. This thesis examines the impact of this law upon the negotiation of divorce, and its implications for the constitution of state and social power. I argue that the New Order state used this law to attempt to control gender relations and reinforce political legitimacy, but that women and men resisted this project in a variety of ways. Divorce may entail the contestation of state ideological prescriptions on gender. It also reveals gender relations operating independently of the state. As such, it is a particularly fruitful site for an analysis of the location and constitution of state and social power. In order to analyse the complex relationship between marriage, divorce, and power, I have adopted several original strategies. I expand the definition of property to encompass

The overall aim of this thesis was to explore the impact of Internet relationships on regular ongoing relationships from the point of view of those engaged in such relationships. Two studies were conducted. A sample of 75 participants, including 22 females and 53 males who were married or living in defacto relationships and ranging in age from 18 to 75 years completed an anonymous online survey for Study One. Demographic characteristics, frequency and method of communication and relationship satisfaction were investigated. Questions were asked about Internet relationship formation. Respondents were asked to gauge levels of self-disclosure within their regular ongoing relationship and their online relationship. They were also asked about the proximity and physical attractiveness of their online partner. It was found that most respondents communicated daily, were more satisfied with their Internet partner than their regular ongoing partner, considered their Internet partner physically attractive and communicated in a highly intimate manner. The purpose of the second study was to investigate the similarities and differences between the personality characteristics and attachment styles of respondents. Participants in the second study were 133 respondents who were married or living in defacto relationships, including 47 females and 86 males ranging in age from 18 years to 66 years. Respondents completed an anonymous online survey, which included measures of personality (e.g. the International Personality Item Pool, Goldberg, 1999), the Relationship Satisfaction questionnaire (Hendrick, 1988), and the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998). Respondents were found to be somewhat more agreeable and conscientious, and less narcissistic than previous research had found to be the case for those individuals who engaged in face-to-face infidelity. The preoccupied attachment group was well represented, but was less differentiated from the other attachment groups than was the fearful group, who were mainly female. The personality profile and attachment style of respondents in Study Two was, therefore, found to be different in important ways from that which has been associated with face-to-face infidelity. Findings were discussed in terms of methodological implications, suggestions for future research and also implications for Counselling Psychologists.

Infidelity violates a western norm that a range of interpersonal behaviours should remain exclusive in committed romantic relationships. Once exposed, the aftermath can be detrimental to all concerned. However, despite a cultural majority endorsing this belief and apprised of the potential consequences of its violations, infidelity or extradyadic relationships are widespread. Furthermore, individual differences in beliefs about what constitutes infidelity blur the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, making the concept of unfaithfulness difficult to fully describe. This variation in attitudes and behaviour, along with the consistent media attention infidelity attracts affirms the enigmatic nature of the behaviour. In response, an aim of the study was to clarify the construct of infidelity among a contemporary Australian sample. This was achieved in two ways. Firstly, the study examined beliefs and behaviours associated with unfaithfulness using qualitative (focus group) and largely quantitative (survey) data. Secondly, the study involved investigation of the association between infidelity and several individual, relationship and environmental variables. Differences in relationships and environmental conditions can be conceptualised within the theoretical framework of the investment model, while adult attachment theory and a lovestyles typology offer theoretical underpinnings to the study of individual differences. Specifically, the aim of this stage of the study was to examine how adult attachment styles (anxious, avoidant), lovestyles (eros, ludus, storge, mania, pragma, agape), relationship variables (satisfaction, investment, commitment), and an environmental variable (perceived alternatives) predicted infidelity. The sample comprised 243 women and 69 men between the ages of 18 and 60 years (M = 31.3 years, SD = 11.9) who were currently in a romantic relationship of at least one year or who had recently been in such a relationship. Participants completed measures pertaining to attachment, lovestyles and various aspects of relationship quality in addition to several measures of extradyadic behaviour. The study found that infidelity, as defined by respondents, was engaged in by 20% of individuals in their current relationships and by 42% of individuals in their previous relationships. Regarding the nature of infidelity, the current findings indicated that various sexual and emotional behaviours carried out with someone other than one's primary partner were considered unfaithful by the vast majority, while fantasy and flirting behaviours were generally seen as acceptable. It was noteworthy, however, that a substantial minority also viewed fantasy as unfaithful, underlining the inherent complexity of the construct. The hypotheses concerning the variables predicting infidelity were partially supported. Results suggested that individuals most likely to engage in extradyadic behaviour were those with an avoidant attachment style or a Ludus lovestyle, more perceived alternatives to their relationship, and most unexpectedly, higher levels of investment in their relationship. Conversely, those least likely to engage in these behaviours were those with an Eros Lovestyle and greater levels of commitment to their relationship. The study confirmed the prevalence of infidelity and emphasised the differential attitudes, behaviours and motivations associated with it. These differences are discussed in relation to the theories presented and an argument is made for research on infidelity to take a broader focus, one that includes the combined aspects of individuals, their relationships and the environment. Implications of these findings for individuals and couples and for the professionals who work with them are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.

Long-haul truck drivers are absent from their families for prolonged periods of time. This paper examines the methods trucking families use to remain connected given such absences. Interviews with ten women married to long-haul truck drivers underwent qualitative analysis. Initially, personal profiles were developed to illustrate life experiences of the women. While the trucking industry set the context, the families decided how to cope with the lifestyle. Patterns of coping strategies developed by the families were described by the women. Coping strategies did not result from the efforts of one individual. All family members contributed to it in a dynamic process. One instrumental source of support was the driver's trucking company. Support systems instrumental in helping families utilize coping mechanisms were identified. Women used ambivalent thought to resolve negative emotions. In addition, an environmental analysis that compared the homes of the women and the homes of non-truckers was conducted to determine whether trucking women's homes reflected their lifestyle and attitudes toward their husband's absence. The trucking family engages in an atypical lifestyle, yet their issues are similar to those experienced by families whose husbands and fathers are home every night. Trucking families continually seek to find methods that allow them to think of themselves as normative. / Graduation date: 1999

Ernest Hemingway wrote to F. Scott Fitzgerald that “The good parts of a book may be only something a writer is lucky enough to overhear or it may be the wreck of his whole damn life — and one is as good as the other” (305). With that, I created a collection of short stories that analyzes my generation of women’s struggles. Framing the thesis are two stories involving three women, Lindsey, Jenny, and Sarah, “The Generation of Discontent” and “Revisions,” with the characters attempting to sort through love, success, and happiness in society. The piece “The Bachelor” has Amanda torn between her currently successful life and the glamour and sometimes infamy of being on ABC’s reality show The Bachelor. In “Eggs Kennedy Style,” the fine line between delusion and dreams becomes defined in both Nan and Kelley of being one of America’s royal Kennedy family. “Cops and Robbers” shows the inner turmoil of women who do not aspire to be mothers and feel guilty for their aspirations as well asthe resulting resentment when they have to give up their dreams. The ideas of taking your loved one for granted and life goals become the driving aspect of “Flat Tire” where story picks up in the middle of major fight between Nicole and Tommy stemming from him dropping the garter the night before at their friend’s wedding. “Almond Blossoms” between a flashback to Amsterdam with Sam’s Dutch fling Andric and present time suburban Ohio with her finance Kevin showing the conflict of being single compared to being settled. As Fitzgerald said, “An author ought to write for his generation” (ix) and I wrote based on my personal experiences as well as my friends’ tales and tribulations that tell of our generation’s struggle. Giving a voice to the high hopes and resulting discontent I feel is important which models the Modern writers like Fitzgerald’s Gatsby’s green lighted hope for Daisy. I hope to revive a bit of that Modern era in my time though our green light just might be the glow of The Bachelor from the television.

The main purpose of the present study was to examine the possible factors that affect the adjustment to breakup of romantic relationships. Initiator status, certainty about the reasons of breakup, current relationship status, and perceived social support were examined in regard to adjustment to breakup. The sample of the study consisted of 397 participants (192 (48.4%) female, 205 (51.6%) male). At the beginning, the invited sample consisted of 561 (276 female, 285 male) participants / 164 of the participants who had not broken off their romantic relationship within the past two years were excluded. Data collection instruments of the study were demographic information form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Fisher&rsquo / s Divorce Adjustment Scale. One-way ANOVA and post-hoc test were conducted to determine the differences among initiator groups in terms of adjustment to breakup.Results showed that there were significant differences between the initiator and non-initiator groups and also between non-initiator and mutual decider groups. There wasn&rsquo / t significant difference between the initiator and the mutual decider groups. The results of t-tests showed that there was a significant difference between the groups who were certain about the reasons of breakup and those who were not in regard to adjustment to breakup. There was also significant difference between the groups who had another romantic relationship after the breakup and those who did not have regarding the adjustment to breakup. Besides these, bivariate correlation analysis indicated a significant relationship between perceived social support and adjustment to breakup.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 198-[213]). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Abilene Christian University, 2001. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-97).