Call for Papers: Cultural Sociology of Divorce

Contributors are invited for Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia to be published in 2013 by SAGE Publications. The submission deadline is Oct. 1, 2012. Three topics are still unassigned (see below).

We are inviting academic editorial contributors to Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia, a 3-volume library reference to be published in 2013 by SAGE Publications. We hope you’ll consider contributing to this exciting project.

While the formal definition of divorce may be fairly concise and straightforward (the legal termination of a marital union, dissolving the bonds of matrimony between parties), the effects are anything but, particularly when children and other family members are involved. The Americans for Divorce Reform estimates that “probably, 40 or possibly even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue.” And outside the United States, there are markedly increased divorce rates across developed countries—divorce and its effects are a significant social factor in our culture and others. In fact, it might be said that a whole “divorce industry” has been constructed, with divorce lawyers and mediators, family counselors, support groups, etc. As King Henry VIII’s divorces showed, divorce has not always been easy or accepted. In some countries, divorce is not permitted and even in Europe, countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland only legalized divorce in the latter quarter of the twentieth century. This multi-disciplinary encyclopedia covers curricular subjects around the world ranging from marriage and the family to anthropology, social and legal history, developmental and clinical psychology, and religion. Three volumes, including over 500 articles, illuminate what has become a culture of divorce and its impact on society.

This comprehensive project will be marketed to academic and public libraries as a print and digital product available to students via the library’s electronic services. Each article, ranging from 900 to 4000 words, is signed by the contributor. The General Editor of the encyclopedia is Robert E. Emery, Ph.D., University of Virginia, who will review all the articles for editorial content and academic consistency. Payment for the articles are honoraria that range from a $50 book credit from Sage Publications for article submissions up to 1,000 words up to a free copy of the encyclopedia for contributions totaling greater than 10,000 words. More than this, your involvement can help assure that credible and detailed data, descriptions, and analysis are available to students of divorce issues.

At this time the project is almost completely assigned with the exception of the following topics (including proposed word counts):

1. Divorce Law-Hispanic Traditions (2000 words) (e.g. Spanish Empire’s influence on communal property laws in the U.S.)
2. Palimony (1500 words)
3. Property Distribution (3000 words)

The final deadline for submissions for these entries is October 1, 2012. If you would like to contribute to building a truly outstanding reference with Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia, please contact me by the e-mail information below. I will provide you with the complete article list, submission guidelines, and sample article for your review.

Thanks very much,

Lisbeth Rogers
Author Manager
Golson Media for SAGE Publications
divorce@golsonmedia.com

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