their careers before getting married. Many
delay childbearing until they are
financially stable. These factors mean they
will be less likely to divorce (see chapter
12). People have become more receptive to
marriage therapy as a way to strengthen
our marriages.
One of the strongest pieces of evidence
behind America’s continuing support of
marriage and family is the high
enrollment of students in college-level
marriage and family classes. These
students recognize that family issues are
challenging. Still, they are hopeful about
the future of their own families. Students
in these classes also are likely to experience
lower divorce rates.
Twenty-first-century American families
look different from those in previous
generations. There is a larger percentage
of multiracial and multiethnic families
today than ever before (see chapter 11).
Many are blended families or stepfamilies.
Today’s American families are more likely
to be headed by a single parent than
before. Most often, both parents have
careers, so children are entrusted to
multiple caretakers. Men are more active
in family life today than in previous
generations. It is not unusual for a man to
be home with his children while his wife
works outside the home (see chapter 9).
The fact that American families“look
different”from earlier historical versions is
not so much the issue as how families will
continue to deal with future challenges.
Modern Families Face Challenges
Chapter 14 demonstrated that a strong
family is a resilient family, a family with an
ability to adapt to change. Change is the
hallmark of American society. Among the
many changes the American family has
faced in the last century, we would identify
these three as having the most dramatic
impact on the American family:Epilogue
- Cultural diversity:Our society has
become more culturally diverse.
Families are more multiethnic and
multiracial. A changing cultural
climate also means that family
composition is different. We cannot
assume that all families share the
same patterns of behavior (see
chapter 11). - Working mothers:More mothers
have moved into the workforce.
This has changed family dynamics.
Women have more input in
decision-making, and other family
members share household duties
(see chapters 6 and 7). Family size
has decreased. Couples delay
childbearing and so have fewer
children. Women are choosing to
pursue career interests before they
have children and also after their
children are raised (see chapters 3,
5 and 7).