Layout 1

The American Family Today

The last half of the 20th century has
seen many of the same marriage-
weakening trends people have either
cheered or jeered over the previous 300
years.However,these trends have
decreased sharply in recent years.To
illustrate,we will look at the following
indicators commonly used to evaluate the
health of marriage and family life in
contemporaryAmerican culture: age of
first marriage,birth rate,divorce rate,
cohabitation,the elderly,and the
economy.

Age of First Marriage

Men and women are marrying later in

life than they did 30 years ago,and the

proportion of adults living alone has

tripled since 1950.As Figure 3.3

demonstrates,in 1970 the median age at

first marriage for men was 23.2 and 20.8

for women (Fields & Casper,2001).In

2000,the median age at first marriage for

men increased to 26.8 and 25.1 for women

(Fields & Casper,2001).In 2005,the

average age at first marriage was 27 for

men and 25.5 for women,indicating this

trend is continuing (U.S.Census Bureau,

2006d).

U.S. Birth Rate: 1940–2005, per 1000 Population

Figure 3.4

Sources:National Center for Health Statistics 1989; Eldridge and Sutton 2007; U.S.Census Bureau 2006c.

Birthsper

1000

Population

26

23.4

20.8

18.2

15.6

(^13) 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
19.4
20.4
24.1
25
23.7
19.4
18.4
14.6
15.915.6
16.7
14.814.4
14
Year
Births
Chapter 3