ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the kinds of work-family decisions that families make, the factors that influence these decisions, the constraints under which families operate, and the actions that contribute to effective family decision-making. It focuses on couples living together in committed relationships because this is a dominant structure in many societies and offers insights into the dynamics of decision-making at the family level. The chapter explains the care of children because dependent care is of substantial importance to most families. It distinguishes between anchoring and daily decisions, two types of decisions that are important components of a family's strategy for managing their work and family lives. Families make a variety of decisions to navigate their work and family lives in a way that is consistent with their values and priorities. The chapter discusses a classification scheme that captures the diversity of family orientations that are present in contemporary society. Heterosexual couples resist the mandates of gender roles as best they can.
