Women's Lives

British psychologists Llewelyn and Osborne combine other researchers' published studies with case histories drawn from their own work in psychotherapy for a lively, informative discussion of the dilemmas women face during the course of their lives. Working from ``psychodynamic, social, and feminist perspectives,'' they consider the effects of both personal and social influences on women confronting problems of adolescence, building and ending intimate relationships, surviving in the workplace, raising children, aging and living alone. Each chapter examines a variety of issues that arise during a particular phase of life. In the chapter ``Becoming a Mother,'' an account of a young woman who becomes pregnant although her marriage is shaky opens a discussion of influences on a woman's decision to have a child and the effects of infertility on a woman's sense of identity. The chapter on aging considers sexuality, illness and possibilities for emotional and spiritual growth. The wide range of topics means that each is treated only briefly; however, this highly accessible volume should appeal to readers interested in the psychological aspects of women's issues. (Sept.)