The American Family

1. The American Family 12.2

2. Introduction • “Image of Typical American Family”: working father, a stay-at home mother, and two or three children • Other examples: married couple who have decided not to have children, one parent present, no parents present—live with grandparents or relatives

3. Courtship and Marriage • Why do People Marry in the United States? • Emotionally and physically attracted to one another • Similar social characteristics to their own: homogamy—based on age, socioeconomic status, religion and race • Marry close to their age • Marry of the same socioeconomic background • Marry of the same Protestant demolition (uncommon to marry non-Protestants • Only 2.4 % of marriages are between individuals of a different race • Heterogamy: marriage between individuals who have different social characteristics---changing more and more each day; function of changing social conditions

4. Family Violence • Most devastating family disruption • Only recently not considered a rare phenomenon • Serious problem between all social classes and racial and ethnic groups • 1975 study: nearly1/3 of those interviewed exeperienced family violence; ¾ reported hitting their child • 10 years later: numbers have decreased

5. Divorce • One out two marriages end in divorce • 4.2 divorces per 1,000 people in the U.S.-highest in the world • Couples who marry in teenage years more likely to divorce • Education-couples with college education less likely to divorce • Varies by race: African American women is higher than Hispanic or Caucasian women—tend to marry young and have low incomes • Men vs. Women: emotional adjustments—suicide, alcoholism, drug abuse, depression and anxiety are all higher among men than women • Children: studies suggest that children of divorced parents have more emotional problems and are lower achievers • Dual-earner families: financially possible for women to remove themselves from an unhappy marriage

6. Family Disruptions in Later Life • Children are leaving the home later in life • Empty nest • Loss of a spouse

7. Trends in American Family Life • Delayed Marriage: getting married later in life • Being single is acceptable alternative to being married • Finish education and launch careers • Couples living together outside of marriage • Delayed Childbearing: having children later in life • Allow time to complete education and to establish a career • Sandwich generation: couples having young children to raise and care for aging parents; feel overwhelmed

8. Trends in American Family Life • Childlessness: married couples who never had children • Waited too long • Cannot have children due to infertility • Voluntary childlessness: conscious choice not to have children; high levels of education and income • Value career, spending time together, financial security and freedom

9. Trends in American Family Life • Dual-Earner Marriages: both husband and wife have full time careers • Economic necessity • More women in colleges and university • Higher pay and more attractive jobs • Increased concern over women in the workforce • Negative consequences for the children; no meaning ful research

10. Trends in American Family Life • One-Parent Families: increase in one parent families in America • Separation, divorce, death, births to unwed mothers or adoption by unmarried couples • 3 common “problems”: • Responsibility overload for parent • Task overload for parent • Emotional overload • Major source of stress is lack of money • Effects on children: • Higher drop out rate • Higher Teen-pregnancy rate • Higher Arrest rate

11. Remarriage • Remarriage: increase rate of remarriage • Stepfamilies, blended families • Periods of adjustments—source of conflict • Having step mom or dad, brother or sister • Takes patience, understanding, and a willingness to work together • 60% end in divorce