changing demographic trends & families in the u.s. lecture 2 introduction to family studies
TRANSCRIPT
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in
the U.S.
Lecture 2Introduction to Family Studies
04/20/23
The Sociological Approach
Macro Level
Micro Level
04/20/23
The Sociological Approach –
The Macro LevelFamily sociologists examine how these social
institutions interact and how they influence behaviors, attitudes, and opportunities in families
Economy
Families
GovernmentEducation
Religion Healthcare
Social Institutions in SocietyA social Institution is any institution in
a society that works to socialize the groups or people in that society
All social institutions fulfill a roles and are guided by a set of behaviors
For example:
Families socialize the next generation of children who will become citizens/workers
The Economy is an institution that insures the maintenance of society through the production, distribution, and consumption of good and services
Social Institutions in SocietyA social Institution is any institution in
a society that works to socialize the groups or people in that society
The Government/Political system is a social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by some people and groups
Education is the social institution responsible for the systematic transmission of knowledge, skills, cultural values within a formally organized structure.
See: http://thecollaboratory.wikidot.com/thompson-social-institutions and make sure you understand these social institutions
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
? What are the trends in fertility & mortality
? What are the trends in marriage & divorce, and cohabitation?
? How have changing trends transformed families?
? How have these trends affected the living situation of children?
How have families changed ?
They differ in size
Families have fewer children due to lower fertility
On average, women have 1.7 children…but
How have families changed ?
Families differ in size and composition
Today, more women in their 40s are childless
In 1970s only 1 in 10 women did not have children
In 2008, 1 in 5 women ended childbearing years with no children (child free)
Source: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1642/more-women-without-children
Families are having fewer children…but
All families’ and individuals’ choices are influenced by the larger society in which they live
For ex. the downturn in the economy has caused families to have fewer children
And…between 2005 and 2011, the % of young adult men age 25-34 who are living in parents' home increasedFrom 14% in 2005 to 19% in 2011From 8 % to 10% for women
Source: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/families_households/cb11-183.html
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
Mortality & Life Expectancy
? What is the average life expectancy for women and for men in the U.S. 2010 ?
Average life expectancy for women is age 81 Average life expectancy for men is age 76
Increases likelihood that women will spend some of their “golden” years as widows
As people are living longer, this increases their “risk” for divorce
• Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr60/nvsr60_04.pdf
How have families changed ? The reasons people marry have
changed with marital expectations
Changes in demographics of families The age that women and men has
increased Cohabitation rates are rising Higher likelihood that children will
spend some time in a single parent family
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
Weakening of marriage
Even though nearly 90 percent of whites and 67% of African Americans are projected to EVENTUALLY marry, the power of marriage to regulate individuals personal life has decreased
This is due to:Increased cohabitation (living together)Sex outside of marriageChildbirth outside of marriage
Source: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/families_households/cb11-183.html
Marriage Rate Declining, Cohabitation Rate Rising
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr049.pdf
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
Changes in marriage
For the first time, more American women are living without a husband than with a husband
In 2005, for the first time more women were living without a spouse
51 percent of women said they were living without a spouse
Up from 35 percent in 1950 and 49 percent in 2000.
Percent of the population who is “never married” has also increased
Average age of marriage has increased
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/us/16census.html?ei=5090&en=8b61820a6c4712e5&ex=1326603600&pagewanted=print
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
SamanthaCharlotteMiranda
Carrie
Changing Roles of WomenMore women are adopting the “Sex and the City”
lifestyle
For example:Women are seeking more education They are entering careers and focusing on moving
up in their jobsMore women are living in urban areas
All these behaviors result in women postponing marriage
SAT&C clip
Source for most recent figures:http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr049.pdf
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
More women are pursuing a college education
Single and married women’s labor force participation rates have increased increased
This leads to postponing marriage
Why are we postponing marriage?
What percentage of Americans over age 25 – 29 have a college degree?
Only 33.5%
Women are more likely to graduate from college than men
Data like these can be found on the U.S. Census website www.census.govClick American Fact Finder
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
More couples cohabit (live together) prior to marriage
This increases the average age at which people get married
In other words you don’t have to marry once you fall in love, you can live together and marry at a later age
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
According to a recent survey of 30-44 year-olds
What percentage of women had ever cohabited prior to marriage?
58%
What percent of women CURRENTLY cohabiting with a man?
7%
As behavior becomes more common, attitudes change as well
In 2003 7 in 10 young adults approve of living together before marriageSource:http://www.gallup.com/poll/8128/Moving-In-Teen-
Views-Cohabitation.aspx http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/06/27/living-together-the-economics-of-cohabitation/
At what age do you think more couples are marrying then couples living together?
http://www.gallup.com/poll/109402/Age-24-Marriage-Wins.aspx
Cohabitation vs. Marriage
Families vary by race/ethnicity
Greater acceptance of gay marriage
Gay marriage is now legal in 13 states and D.C.
And there are nearly 650,000 unmarried gay couples
The majority of Americans (53 percent) support gay marriage
About 46 percent oppose it
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
Lessened economic dependence of women (on men or marriage)
Decline in homemaker role (women who stay at home and do not work for pay outside the home)
Movement of women into the labor market
BIGGEST CHANGE: Married, middle-class mothers started working for pay
Remember – women probably had less economic independence in the 1950s than 50 -70 years BEFORE (when we lived on farms or worked in factories)
Mother’s Labor Force Participation Rate
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2010/ted_20100507.htm
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
In 2008:
77 % of all mothers with school-age children are in the labor force
64 % of mothers with preschool-age children are working for pay
In general women are more independent financially – thus less dependent on marriage
Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/famee.pdf
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
Of all married couples, 65% are dual-earner couplesDual-earner = both husband and wife in the
labor force
30% of married couples have one working spouse – usually husbands
So the majority of married couples today – BOTH wife & husband have paid jobs
Husbands are still more likely to earn more than their wives
Source: http://ncfmr.bgsu.edu/pdf/family_profiles/file126564.pdf
Source:
Percentage of married couples aged 15-65 by
earner status
Source: http://ncfmr.bgsu.edu/pdf/family_profiles/file126564.pdf
Divorce
What is the divorce rate?
Annual Divorce Rate per 1,000 MarriagesUnited States 1860 - 2002
Sources: for 1860-1988, Cherlin [1992]; for 1989-1996, U.S. NationalCenter for Health Statistics [1993, 1995, 1997].
What is the Divorce Rate?50 percent of first marriages
for men age 45 and under will EVENTUALLY end in divorce – but remember that is over the lifetime of a marriage!
DivorceWhat is the divorce rate?
In a given year, your RISK (chance) of divorce is much lower!For example, in 2009 about 36 out of 1,000 people (U.S. population) got divorced In other words, 3.6 percent of all people in the U.S. received a divorce in 2009
Source: NCHS, retrieved on 09/10/10 from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/divorce.htm
To find demographic data on New Jersey
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34000.html
Changing Demographic Trends & Families in the U.S.
Summary
Men and especially women are postponing marriage
Rates of cohabitation are four times higher now then in 1974
Married mothers have high rates of labor force participation
Divorce rates increased steadily over the 20th century and have leveled off
And while we are on the topic of attitude change..
Let’s look at some recent findings from the Gallup Poll
What percent of Americans do you think support
Abortion?
Sex before marriage?
Gay relations?
An extramarital affair?
http://www.gallup.com/video/107374/Whats-Morally-Acceptable-2008.aspx