PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN QUARTERLY

The paper examines the structural and socio-psychological factors which have led to the emergence of new types of relationships such as, cross-sex colleagueships and cross-sex friendships, and to a new value placed on intimacy. Because people are now involved in a wide range of relationships, studies of relationships should start from the individuals, map all the relationships in which they are involved and examine the interrelations between the different types of relationships. Such an analysis of individuals ’ networks of relationships requires a longitudinal design which allows the study of crucial developmental processes. The paper also examines current assumptions concerning intimate relationships such as, exclusivity, permanence, commitment and the role sexuality plays in the establishment of intimacy. Up to the middle ~ O ’ S, most Americans had spouses, children and acquaintances made and unmade rather easily and pain-lessly. The husbands had careers that required them to move frequently with their families and there was no place for close friendships which were considered to be threatening to marital intimacy. In the 1970’s, the explosion of relationships and the focus on intimacy are mainly the resdts of women’s increasing liberation, the creation of a sizable “single ” population at a l l age groups as well as the questioning of the validity of rat-race type achievement and the structural difficulties in attaining success. Women have been able to establish close, intimate relation-ships with other women and are asking for an intimate relation-ship in their marriages as well as independence to do what i