How women decide to balance work, marriage and motherhood; what happens as they age as a result of their decisions; and gender stereotypes of young, middle-aged and older women are among the topics examined in this volume. Relating research on older women to theoretical and conceptual developments in the psychology of adult development and ageing, contributions also include a life-span approach to attachment theory. In addition, a penetrating historical analysis of cultural images of the nature of cognition, mind and creativity is presented, and gender identity continuity and change in midlife explored. The social convey and support-efficacy models are also used to describe causal mechanisms through which social relations and gender differences in social relations may develop.