Gender Roles and the Family Life Cycle

Abstract

A woman's diagnosis of cancer affects the family system by requiring families to accommodate new daily routines, redistribute roles, develop a new sense of normalcy, and anticipate future changes in family functioning. Gender-role socialization influences the family's ability to adapt to the myriad of changes necessary during the woman's treatment and recovery from cancer. This article integrates knowledge of gender-role socialization within the context of family systems principles and family life cycle stages in order to provide a framework for working with female cancer patients and their families. A case application exemplifying the unique struggle of women diagnosed within the context of the family life cycle is provided.

Key Words:

• Feminist family therapy
• gender roles
• family life cycle
• cancer