Layout 1

Chapter 3

As Figure 3.3 depicts,the average age of
marriage dropped in the period between
1940 and 1950,before beginning a gradual
rise in the 1950s.In the 1950s,the divorce
rate stabilized,the number of married
women in the workforce dropped,and
birthrates doubled—all indicators
frequently used to determine the health of
the family.More and more young women
graduated from high school and went on
to college instead of working to help
support their families or subsidize a
brother’s education.
Thisimageofthetraditionalfamilywas
bolsteredbytelevisionshowssuchasLeave it
to BeaverandOzzie and Harriet.Aswe

suggestedatthebeginningofthischapter,in

thecourseofahalf-hourprogram,fathers

returnedhomereadytohelpsettleany

minorproblems,motherswerealways

cheerfulandloving,andchildrenwere

sociallyandacademicallysuccessful.This

depictionoffamilylifeinthe1950s,while

misleading,doesaccuratelypointoutthat,in

general,familiesforthefirsttimeowneda

house,acar,andwhatwouldbecomean

importantculturalicon—atelevisionset.

Overall,parentswereanxioustoprovide

theirchildrenwithadvantageswhichhadnot

existedduringtheDepressionandwar.The

1950sand1960senjoyedunequaled

prosperityintheUnitedStates.Numerous

U.S. Divorce Rate 1870–2006, per 100 Marriages

Figure 3.2

Sources:National Center for Health Statistics 1986,1996,2002; Clark 1995; Eldridge and Sutton 2007;

Grove and Hetzel 1968; Munson and Sutton 2004; National Center for Health Statistics 1973.

6

4.8

3.6

2.4

1.2

(^019001920194019551965197519851995200120032005)
1910 1930 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
Year
Divorces
2000 2002 2004 2006
Divorces
per1000
Population
0.70.8
1.61.6
2
2.6
2.32.22.5
3.5
4.8
5.2 5
4.74.5
4.2 (^44)
3.83.73.6 3.6