Research Paper
Kaitlyn Rust
CHFD 340: Family Development
The Decline of the American Family
The Decline of the American Family In the past decade, there has been a 5% decrease in the total of traditional American family households, which includes a husband and wife and their children (Lofquist, Lugaila, O’Connell & Feliz, 2012). Not only has there has been a decline over the years, but the amount of traditional families in America is miniscule to begin with. In year 2000, it was recorded that out of 105 million households, approximately 25 million were composed of husband, wife and children; while in year 2010, it was recorded that out of 116 million households, approximately 23 million were traditional family households (Lofquist, Lugaila, O’Connell & Feliz, 2012). That is quite a significant decrease that demonstrates the idea that the traditional American family is slowly diminishing. The concept of an American family is changing from just a traditional nuclear family to a variety of different types of American families. However, there is also an overall decline of the American family concept, quality and importance. The decline of the American family is a result of divorce, cohabitation, technology and the economy. A family is defined by the United States Census Bureau as “two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption residing in the same unit” (Welch, 2012, p. 6). A typical American family once was composed of a man and woman whom were married and their children. This type of family is referred to as a nuclear family, but presently there are many other types of families as well, such as the single-parent family, the childless/childfree family, the stepfamily, the cohabitating family, and gay and lesbian families (Welch, 2012). The amount of different types of families is continuing to grow, which gives American a great variety, but at the same time is taking away the value from the classic American family. The traditional nuclear family is
CHFD 340: Family Development
The Decline of the American Family
The Decline of the American Family In the past decade, there has been a 5% decrease in the total of traditional American family households, which includes a husband and wife and their children (Lofquist, Lugaila, O’Connell & Feliz, 2012). Not only has there has been a decline over the years, but the amount of traditional families in America is miniscule to begin with. In year 2000, it was recorded that out of 105 million households, approximately 25 million were composed of husband, wife and children; while in year 2010, it was recorded that out of 116 million households, approximately 23 million were traditional family households (Lofquist, Lugaila, O’Connell & Feliz, 2012). That is quite a significant decrease that demonstrates the idea that the traditional American family is slowly diminishing. The concept of an American family is changing from just a traditional nuclear family to a variety of different types of American families. However, there is also an overall decline of the American family concept, quality and importance. The decline of the American family is a result of divorce, cohabitation, technology and the economy. A family is defined by the United States Census Bureau as “two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption residing in the same unit” (Welch, 2012, p. 6). A typical American family once was composed of a man and woman whom were married and their children. This type of family is referred to as a nuclear family, but presently there are many other types of families as well, such as the single-parent family, the childless/childfree family, the stepfamily, the cohabitating family, and gay and lesbian families (Welch, 2012). The amount of different types of families is continuing to grow, which gives American a great variety, but at the same time is taking away the value from the classic American family. The traditional nuclear family is
References: Campbell, K., & Wright, D. W. (2010). Marriage today: Exploring the incongruence between americans ' beliefs and practices.Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 41(3), 329-X Lofquist, D., Lugaila, T., O’Connell, M., & Feliz, S. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-14.pdf Popenoe, D