Feminism and the American Family Ideal

Abstract

Two important dimensions of the American dream for contemporary dualcareer couples are achievement and selfsufficiency. In-depth interviews with twentyone corporate dual-career couples reveal that this version of the American dream contains several distinctive features: negotiating two careers in one family; deciding to have children within the confines of traditional male career models; balancing parenting between spouses; and finding solutions to childcare problems. The interviews reveal that family adjustment and self-sufficiency are core values but ones which are contingent upon the hired services of working class women. Thus, while an "individualized" American dream may be the visible outcome of achievement for these dual-career couples, self-sufficiency proves to be more apparent than real.