Is the (nuclear) family phasing out?

The nuclear family (father—mother—children) is a relatively recent construct. Until about a hundred years ago we had clans—tribes— extended families.

Today even the nuclear family is breaking apart. Here are some quick statistics for the U.S.:

• The traditional nuclear family (working husband—stay-at-home wife—several children) constituted about seventy-five percent of all households in the 1950s. In the 1980s it is under seven percent. (The majority of households are now nontraditional formats: remarried couples—stepfamilies—-childless couples—two-income homes—etc.) Also as I will indicate there is a proliferation of nonfamily options.

• Over half of all marriages end in divorce. "It's come to the point where people who get married today don't have the deadly serious attitude of till death do us part," says Dr. Robert T. London, a psy­chiatrist at New York University Medical Center.¹' 'We want it to work, but if it breaks up, it'll break up."

• Forty-five percent of children born today can expect to live with only one parent.

• Thirty-five million Americans now live in a stepfamily unit. One of every five children is a stepchild.

• Over one of every five marriages is a remarriage. (This leads some people to assume that marriages are coming back.)

• The rate of reproduction in the United States is the lowest in its history—15.5 per 1,000 people. (The rate is even lower in several European countries.)

• The single-person household is now the fastest-growing category. One out of three adult Americans is single.

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau "the number of persons per household in the U. S. has been declining for at least the last one hundred years.

In 1850 the average number of people per household was 5.55 In 1900 it was 4.76 In 1930 4.11 In 1960 3.33 In 1986 2.67"² The Census Bureau projects that the average number of people per household will continue to decline.

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 714