Cultural Variations in Marriage and Family(Thompson & Hickey, 2005). This is a
vulnerable segment of the population
because of the impact economic
downturns, layoffs and plant closings have
on these families.
Working-class people tend to get
married earlier than the middle- and upper-
class individuals, making them even more
vulnerable to economic pressures (Newman
& Grauerholz, 2002). Most mothers must
work to supplement the family income.
This creates a dichotomy in which parents
want to be with their children but know
they must work to provide a“good home.”
Unfortunately, children only see the absence
of parents which can frequently make it a
“bad home”in spite of the parents efforts to
the contrary (Newman & Grauerholz,
2002).Working-class parents sacrifice so
their children willnothave the life they
have, in contrast to middle-class parentswho sacrifice so their childrencanhave a life
like theirs (Newman & Grauerholz, 2005).The Lower Class: Families in PovertyThe lower class includes the working
poor, as well as those in abject poverty.
The working poor are families who have
regular employment but whose wages are
so low they live in relative poverty.
Families in poverty lack the basic needs—
food, clothing, shelter—necessary for a
minimum standard of well-being and life.
Families in this class account for
approximately 20% of total U.S. family
income and earn less than $16,000
(Thompson & Hickey, 2005). According to
the 2007 Census, the poverty rate in 2006
was 12.3%, down from 12.6% in 2005.
About 17.4% of the children in America
fall into this group (America’s children,
2008; DeNavas, Proctor, & Smith, 2007;The working class has a strong work ethic and little
anticipation of work satisfaction.1% of the American population experience
homelessness each year.© iStockphoto.com / heimphoto
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