Between Mothers and Sons: 2the Making of Vital and Loving Men

Despite the current fashion for raising boys and girls as free as possible from sexual stereotypes, recent research, argues this book, shows that boys and girls are just not the same. In her pioneering new work, Bassoff ( Mothers and Daughters ) uses a combination of psychological studies, myths and legends, personal ancecdotes, popular culture and common sense to examine the profound influence of mothers in shaping their sons' identities. It is important, she urges, that a mother aid in her son's inevitable separation from her. She discusses the differences between the sexes, the importance of a positive male role model in a boy's life and how a mother's response to her son's sexuality influences his ability to relate to the opposite sex in adulthood. Also included is advice for single mothers, as well as for mothers of stepsons and gay sons. This book is an important addition to the fields of parenting and psychology. (Sept.)