way of "doing gender," and may constrain his or her choices. Individuals' own ways of

"doing gender" through everyday practices influence what options are available to the

others in their lives. Through this reciprocal process, meanings of gender are co-

constructed through relationships (Fox, 2001).

 Ferree (1990) stated "The fundamental question is how the illusion of a gender

dichotomy is constructed and maintained in the face of between-sex similarity and

within-sex difference, and the answer is found in the constant and contentious process of

en-gendering behavior as separate and unequal" (pp. 868-869). This "constant and

contentious process" occurs at many levels, including in relationships and families.

Ferree acknowledged families as sources of both struggle and support. This dual aspect

can be seen in families' efforts to change the ways they "do gender." The separate

spheres once reified in families have blurred, with women participating at higher rates in

paid employment and men participating more in household work. Yet men's participation

in family work is still limited and women are not yet fully integrated into the sphere of

business. Gerson and Peiss (1985) distinguished between macro- and micro-level

boundaries, noting reduction of the macro-level boundaries between the public and

private spheres may be coupled with strengthening of micro-level boundaries. They

provide the example that as macro-level boundaries have shifted so more women are in

the paid workforce and more men participate in household work, micro-level boundaries

of meaning and interpretation have strengthened; as such women's income is seen as

secondary and men's household contributions only constitute "helping," thereby

reinforcing the gender dichotomy.