Spatial Separation in Family Life: A Mathematician’s Choice

Abstract

The media have recently been reporting some strange stories. Are we witnessing the next step in the Women’s Movement? Married couples are living apart in order to practice their careers. The papers seem to assure us that these couples intend to do this for at most a year or two—and not at all if children are involved. Interviews with husband and wife reveal that both believe they must live apart if they are to succeed professionally; the job market is tight. I sometimes wonder whether these couples realize what might be in store for them.