Changing Families and Relationships in the US.Lecture 2Family Sociology

Changing Families & Relationships in the U.S.

How have families changed over time

Families have become more private spheresHow have the functions performed by families changed? Social institutions have developed that perform the functions previously carried out by families In sum, modern families perform fewer functions than families of the past

Changing Families and Relationships in the U.S.

Are families in decline or adapting to long term trends?

Myths about the past lead to emphasis on decline

Sociologist, Andrew Cherlin, argues the breadwinner/homemaker family of the 1950s faded quickly

History of Families in the U.S.

Images of the “good old days” are largely myths (Coontz, 2000)

Taking a historic, long term approach leads to adaptation conclusion

Don’t make comparisons to the 1950s!

Changing Families and Relationships in the U.S.

SamanthaCharlotte

Miranda

Carrie

Article by Hymowitz

According to the article by Hymowitz, “The New Girl Order,” the “Sex and the City” lifestyle, is going global.

What three demographic changes are at the core of this lifestyle shift?

First, women—especially, but not only, in the developed world—are getting married and having children considerably later than ever before.

Article by Hymowitz

What three demographic changes are at the core of this lifestyle shift?

Second, young people, particularly women, are enrolling in colleges and universities at unprecedented rates.

Between 1960 and 2000, the percentages of women age 20 -25, enrolled in school more than doubled in the U.S.

Third, urbanization -- women more likely to live on their own in cities after finishing school and before getting married.

The Sex & the City LifestyleMANY women are

getting a college education moving to urban areas andstarting a career BEFORE marriage

This leads to women postponing marriage, getting married at an older age and having sex prior to marriage

What percent of women in Age 30 – 34 are not married?

A: 7 %

B 15%

22%

Answer 22%

Women are postponing marriage

More women attending and graduating from college

Pursuing careers before marrying

Cohabiting before marriage

Women are Postponing Marriage

What is the average age that women and men marry today

A: 23 and 24

B: 25 and 27

C: 26 and 28

http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/tabMS-2.pdf

In 2011 the average age men marry is 28 and women 26

Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.

More women are pursuing a college education

Today women are more likely to graduate from college than men

Research published in the journal DEMOGRAPHY, 2006

http://www.jstor.org/stable/4137230

Why are women postponing marriage?

What percentage of Americans over age 25 have a college degree?

A: 25 %

B: 40%

C: 55%

Why are women postponing marriage?

What percentage of Americans over age 25 have a college degree?

Only 25%

Women are more likely to graduate from college than men

Data like these can be found on the U.S. Census website www.census.gov

Click American Fact Finder

Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.

Single and married women’s labor force participation rates have increased

This leads to postponing marriage

Watch this clip of Sex & the City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyuCwCN78lA

Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.

Lessened economic dependence of women on men

Decline in homemaker role

Movement of women into the labor market (esp. married, middle-class mothers)

Remember – women were more economically dependent on marriage in the 1950s than 50 years BEFORE – when everyone worked on farms or in factories

Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.

What type of women (married, single, mothers) have the highest labor force participation rate? --- are most likely to be in paid work force?

A: Single, never married women

B: Married women

C: Divorced/Separated/Remarried women

Hint: Since 1960s we have witnessed the greatest movement of women into the labor market (esp. married, middle-class mothers)

Of all married women with children ages 6 and over, what percentage are working for pay

A: 55%

64 %

76 %

Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.

Labor Force Participation Rates of Married Women with Children by Age of Youngest Child, 1975 - 2008

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2010/ted_20100507.htm

Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.

In 2008:

63.6 percent of mothers with younger children -- under age 6 were in the labor force

77.5 percent of mothers with older children -- ages 6 – 17 were in the labor force

Unmarried mothers are more likely to work than married mothers (76% unmarried, 69% married mothers are employed)

In general women are more independent financially – thus less dependent on marriage

Source: http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2010/ted_20100507.htm

Changing Families & Relationships in the U.S.

Summary1) Always take a “long view” when looking at family trendsDon’t just compare today to the 1950s2) Men and especially women are postponing marriage3) Women are concentrating on finishing college and starting a career BEFORE marriage4) And once women DO marry and have children they are more likely to stay in the labor force than in the past

In sum, married mothers have high rates of labor force participation