What do The Numbers Say?
The definition of a traditional family continues to be adjusted to suit societal changes. The result of the change in definition is a subsequent shift in structure as seen by the steady increase of single parent families coupled with subtle but consistent changes in two parent families (Pew Research Center, 2015). The increase in single parent families can be attributed several factors such as increased divorced rates. The entry of women into the labor force provided an alternative breadwinner. As a result there has been an increase in the number of women who opt to raise their children alone (Goldscheider et al., 2015). The growing number of divorces is also a factor that increased single parent families. Both these drivers can to a degree be attributed to a recent change in the attitude towards single parent families.
The changes have not been localized to just the number but also composition of the family. The percentage of children living with two parents has decreased significantly, with a significant number of them adopting an alternative arrangement. These arrangements attribute their increase to increases in divorce, remarriage and cohabitation, with 62% of children in two parent marriages: 15% of them live in a non-traditional setting. (Pew Research Center, 2015). Remarriage, cohabitation, and co-parenting practices have been on the rise, perhaps as an attempt to preserve a semblance of the traditional family unit.
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How does the Change Reflect Cultural Changes in Society?
In addition to the mentioned changes, these numbers represent a cultural shift in the definition of whom the provider is and who is expected to provide. A traditional family expected that the male figure provides while the female figure nurtures. The last few decades have marked an increase of women into the labor participation force, a change that has no doubt tilted the balance of the traditional family unit. There are cases where providence sometimes depends entirely on the women (Goldscheider et al., 2015; Pew Research Center, 2015). As a result, men are also expressing preference for spouses who contribute to the income of the household. There has been a cultural shift in traditional gender roles especially within the family setting.
Furthermore, there has been a change in the definition of what socially acceptable structures and interactions in the family unit and as a society at large entails. The context of having a child was clearly defined as in a family context. Today, the choices about when to have intimate interactions and children are not simultaneously considered (Vanorman and Scommegna, 2016). This can in part be attributed to the steady increase in the number of alternative family arrangements.
What Do You Find Most Interesting and Why?
The demographics of households with two parent households with exposure to college education relative to those without are particularly interesting figures. According to Pew Research Center, (2015), children in households where at least one parent is college educated are more likely to be in a two parent home relative to those who are not. This raises the question of what effect higher education levels has on the mindset of the individual towards marriage and the consequences on their probability to sustain a successful marriage. The figures also indicate that the higher the education the higher the likelihood of the marriage being to the first spouse, this would imply that the trend of delaying marriage due to pursuit of higher education may have a positive correlation to the success of a marriage.
References
Goldscheider, F., Bernhardt, E., & Lappegård, T. (2015). The Gender Revolution: A Framework
for Understanding Changing Family and Demographic Behavior. Population and Development Review, (41, 2), 207–239. doi:10.1111/j.1728-4457.2015.00045.x
Pew Research Center, (2015). Parenting In America. Retrieved on 22 Aug 2019 from:
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/12/17/1-the-american-family-today/
Vanorman, A., & Scommegna, P. (2016). Understanding the Dynamics of Family Change in the
United States. PRB. Retrieved on 22 Aug 2019 from: https://www.prb.org/dynamics-family-change/
