CHANGES IN THE AMERICAN FAMILY
- The character of the American family has changed from one
in which there is a single wage-earner to a two-earner family, usually
with children, but often without.
CHARACTER OF FAMILIES
Households with married couple, children,
wife does not work outside the home |
Married couples with children in which
only father works outside the home |
Married couple household with children,
both parents work outside the home |
Married couple house hold, both work
outside the home, no children |
7 percent |
13 percent |
31 percent |
25 percent |
Excerpted from, Sam Roberts,
Who Are We Now?: The Changing Face
of America in the Twenty-first Century.
Times Books, New York
, P. 24
MARRIED COUPLES AS PERCENT OF TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS
Year |
1950 |
1990 |
2000 |
Percent of Total |
78 percent |
55 percent |
52 percent* |
* The rate of decline is slowing due to the affects of an increasing
number of immigration of families. Excerpted from, Sam Roberts, Who
Are We Now?: The Changing Face of America in the Twenty-first Century. Times
Books, New York , P. 24
- Americans are marrying later.
(the following is
excerpted from, Sam Roberts, Who Are We Now?: The Changing Face
of America in the Twenty-first Century . Times Books, New York
, pp. 25-27)
AVERAGE AGE OF FIRST MARRIAGE
YEAR |
1950 |
2000 |
Men |
21 |
26.9 |
Women |
23 |
25.3 |
PERCENTAGE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN MARRIED
Year |
1950 |
2000 |
15-24 year olds |
Men Women
77 % 56 % |
Men Women
88 % 82% |
25-34 year olds |
Men Women
19 % 11 % |
Men Women
39% 30% |
- Increasing proportions of children are living with one parent,
most often the mother. This is particularly true among Black families.
(the
following is excerpted from, Sam Roberts, Who
Are We Now?: The Changing Face of America in the Twenty-first Century .
Times Books, New York , p.34
PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN EACH
GROUP
ALL RACES
YEAR |
Mother Only |
Father Only |
Two Parents |
1970 |
12 |
1 |
87 |
1980 |
19 |
2 |
79 |
1990 |
24 |
4 |
72 |
2000 |
26 |
6 |
68 |
PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN EACH
GROUP
WHITE
YEAR |
Mother Only |
Father Only |
Two Parents |
1970 |
9 |
1 |
90 |
1980 |
15 |
2 |
83 |
1990 |
19 |
4 |
77 |
2000 |
21 |
6 |
73 |
PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN EACH
GROUP
BLACK
YEAR |
Mother Only |
Father Only |
Two Parents |
1970 |
33 |
3 |
64 |
1980 |
49 |
3 |
48 |
1990 |
56 |
4 |
39 |
2000 |
54 |
7 |
39 |
PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN EACH
GROUP
HISPANIC
YEAR |
Mother Only |
Father Only |
Two Parents |
1970 |
NA |
NA |
NA |
1980 |
24 |
2 |
74 |
1990 |
29 |
4 |
67 |
2000 |
28 |
7 |
65 |
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