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AbstractIn this invited commentary, I address the history and impact of feminist theory in family studies, casting a critical perspective on theorizing in both feminist studies and family studies. I assess indicators of the impact of feminist theory on the study of families, consider the enduring tensions in feminist family theory, and trace 4 generations of feminist theorizing and activism as a prelude to the ways that feminist theory critiques the patriarchal family. Through texts that reflect some of my own educational experiences, I discuss a selection of articles and books that have been influential in establishing the body of knowledge associated with feminist family studies. I conclude with a reflection on the life and work of Alexis J. Walker, to whom this article is dedicated.

Abstract: The theory of ambiguous loss is applied to structural ambiguity and personal transcendence in the parent‐child relationship following a same‐gender relational ending. Working recursively through the six guidelines of ambiguous loss (finding meaning, tempering mastery, reconstructing identity, normalizing ambivalence, revising attachment, and discovering hope), I use reflexive personal narrative to describe the impact of a child's psychological presence but physical absence on a nonbiological parent. Three themes are identified: (a) naming the problem—the loss of our family unit, (b) the paradox of presence and absence—fractured parent‐child ties, and (c) recursive discovery of meaning and hope. Implications for practice include the following: (a) applying ambiguous loss to nonlegal relational loss, (b) public policy—the right to same‐gender divorce, and (c) telling our stories as transformative practice.

This study examines distressed fathers' perceptions of inequity about their experiences related to the divorce process, custody, visitation, and child support. A content analysis of men's subjective responses to an open‐ended survey question revealed dissatisfactions with the legal system and emotional hardships associated with divorce. Fathers expressed strong negative feelings about discrimination from the legal system. Relational inequities centered around the ex‐wife and her perceived responsibility for problems with the courts and relationships with children.