Layout 1

The Changing Face of theAmerican Family: Modern History

factoryjobswereavailable,thenumberof
white-collarjobsincreased,wageswerehigh,
mortgagesandtuitionmoneywereavailable
becauseoffederalsupport,andgoodswere
relativelycheap(Coontz,1992).
However,this emphasis on prosperity
in the 1950s would sow the seeds of a
radical family change in the 1960s.The
idealized middle-class family began to
show cracks by the late 1950s.
Not all families followed these
trajectories.Between 1920 and 1950,
African-American families were
themselves divided by education,class and
gender lines; however,these differences
did not fracture the black community.
This is partially due to external factors of

white racism,violence,and hostility,

which forged theAfrican-American

community together (Taylor & Naison,

2000).In the nation’s cities,housing

The image of the traditional family were bolstered by television

shows such as Leave it to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet.

Median Age at First Marriage: 1900–2005 United States

Figure 3.3

Source:U.S.Census Bureau 2006d.

Females

Males

28

26

24

22

20

1900

25.9

21.921.6

21.221.321.5

20.320.3

20.8

22

23.9

25.1 25.1 25.3

24.624.3

25.3

22.8 22.823.2

24.7

26.1

26.8 27.1

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005

Year

Age

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