1. T HE A MERICAN F AMILY 12.2

2. I NTRODUCTION “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. C OURTSHIP AND M ARRIAGE 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. F AMILY V IOLENCE 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. D IVORCE 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. F AMILY D ISRUPTIONS IN L ATER L IFE Children are leaving the home later in life Empty nest Loss of a spouse

7. T RENDS IN A MERICAN F AMILY L IFE 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. T RENDS IN A MERICAN F AMILY L IFE 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. T RENDS IN A MERICAN F AMILY L IFE 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. T RENDS IN A MERICAN F AMILY L IFE 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. R EMARRIAGE 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