How serious are the issues that usually precipitate a divorce? Notice how this question was finessed in the movie. Notice how this question was finessed in the movie. Whitehead: “Some people say as few as 10-15% of divorces involve marriages that are really irretrievably broken.” Whitehead: “Some people say as few as 10-15% of divorces involve marriages that are really irretrievably broken.” Narrator: “So even by the most generous measure, many of these divorces are not justified.” Narrator: “So even by the most generous measure, many of these divorces are not justified.”

Major criticisms of Wallerstein, Second Chances Cherlin and Furstenberg, Divided Families Cherlin and Furstenberg, Divided Families Lack of representative sampling Lack of representative sampling Lack of control group of children not experiencing divorce Lack of control group of children not experiencing divorce Basis for their book: National Survey of Children, in which a representative sample of parents and children were interviewed at 5- year intervals

“Fading fathers” Five years after divorce, nearly half of kids do not have contact with fathers even once a year. Five years after divorce, nearly half of kids do not have contact with fathers even once a year. Why? Why? Child support issues (social class) Child support issues (social class) Parenting skills of fathers Parenting skills of fathers Very part-time parenting Very part-time parenting

Economic Issues Female-headed families six times more likely to be poor. Female-headed families six times more likely to be poor. Child support system: improving but still not generous… e.g. British system more sensitive to children’s needs and less sensitive to noncustodial parent’s needs Child support system: improving but still not generous… e.g. British system more sensitive to children’s needs and less sensitive to noncustodial parent’s needs

Child well-being NSC data: “In the last four years has your child had any behavior or discipline problems at school resulting in your receiving a note or being asked to come to school?” NSC data: “In the last four years has your child had any behavior or discipline problems at school resulting in your receiving a note or being asked to come to school?” 34% (children of divorce) vs 20% Children of divorce doing no worse than children in intact, high conflict homes

Public policy recommendations Help custodial parent function better: improve child support and collections Help custodial parent function better: improve child support and collections Reduce conflict between parents: implement “primary caretaker standard” for custody Reduce conflict between parents: implement “primary caretaker standard” for custody What about joint custody? What about joint custody?

Wallerstein: “The Unexpected Legacy” How is Wallerstein’s latest work improved by the criticisms from Cherlin and Furstenburg How is Wallerstein’s latest work improved by the criticisms from Cherlin and Furstenburg Comparison group: 43 people of same age, raised in same neighborhoods Comparison group: 43 people of same age, raised in same neighborhoods Book presented as life stories of five children (now adults) from her original sample, contrasted with similar comparison person from new sample Book presented as life stories of five children (now adults) from her original sample, contrasted with similar comparison person from new sample Not against all divorce; not saying universally harmful to kids Not against all divorce; not saying universally harmful to kids Groups: Wallerstein, 3-6, Groups: Wallerstein, 3-6, 12-13

After 25 years Able to track down 80% of “children” in the original study Able to track down 80% of “children” in the original study Karen and Gary Karen and Gary Gary’s parents unhappy but no divorce… good parents in spite of their unhappiness Gary’s parents unhappy but no divorce… good parents in spite of their unhappiness Compared with Gary, Karen missed out on play. “When visiting and custody plans are made by parents, children’s friendship and play activities rarely considered. Compared with Gary, Karen missed out on play. “When visiting and custody plans are made by parents, children’s friendship and play activities rarely considered. Key quotes, bottom of p. 34, p., 75 Key quotes, bottom of p. 34, p., 75

Can we trust Wallerstein? Qualitative research: what is the evidence? Qualitative research: what is the evidence? No way to really know how representative her original sample might be No way to really know how representative her original sample might be E.g: “Two out of three of the adults in our long term study of divorce have decided not to have children…. Of course, these people are still relatively young and may change their minds…” E.g: “Two out of three of the adults in our long term study of divorce have decided not to have children…. Of course, these people are still relatively young and may change their minds…” Groups: discussion questions Groups: discussion questions

Growing Up Lonely Economic stresses for single parent families Economic stresses for single parent families Role overload Role overload Quote, p. 166 Quote, p. 166 Paula: “I know that Mom turned herself inside out to support us and I’ll always be grateful to her, but I remember her as absent.” Paula: “I know that Mom turned herself inside out to support us and I’ll always be grateful to her, but I remember her as absent.”

Court-Ordered Visiting, the Child’s View “The visiting schedule was set up on the basis of a compromise meeting the demands of both parents.” “The visiting schedule was set up on the basis of a compromise meeting the demands of both parents.” Visits with dad: quote, p. 177 Visits with dad: quote, p. 177 “Obviously this father didn’t have a clue of what to do with young girls, and no one helped him.” “Obviously this father didn’t have a clue of what to do with young girls, and no one helped him.” W: “I have rarely met a child who felt protected by this (legal) system.” W: “I have rarely met a child who felt protected by this (legal) system.”