The Fall of the Family

Understanding the Increase of Single Parenthood in the United States

In today’s iteration of The Fall of the Family, I plan to breakdown why single parenthood has increased in the United States, which will also explain why it shows no sign of slowing down. Let’s begin.

In 1968, approximately 9% of children under the age of 18 in the United States were living with unmarried parents (single mom, single dad, or cohabiting). In 2017, that number was 32%, and it continues to rise (Pew Research Center). An increase of such magnitude begs ones to ask the simple question “why?”

While there are a variety reasons this could have occurred, one that widely agreed upon is the uptick in cohabiting relationships and increased divorce rates (which share an unironic association) (Pew Research Center). In fact, 73% of young women interviewed between 2008 and 2018 claimed to have cohabited, where only 50% had been married (National Library of Medicine). This is shocking when cohabiting relationships are MORE likely to dissolve than result in marriage. To make matters worse, those involved in a dissolved cohabitation are more likely to experience failed cohabiting relationships in the future (serial cohabitation). This has led more people to go-unmarried, and those who do get married to have increased odds of divorce (Lemidi and Manning). Ok, well then why DO people prefer cohabiting over marriage? That’s a very interesting question. Finding the answer begins with observing cultural shifts toward non-institutional relationships, and the acceptance of cohabitation as a viable alternative to marriage (despite the latter being significantly more sustainable long-term). In the past, cohabitation was frowned upon, especially without intent of marriage, however, it has now become viewed as appropriate and even optimal. Modern feminism continues to encourage young women to become less committal and dependent on men.  On the other end, young men are being increasingly warned of the economic damages suffered after divorce, and the socioeconomic struggles marriage can often present, persuading them to pursue alternative relational options (Forbes).

These have both caused a greater desire to cohabit. Of course, the increasing inclusion and cheering on of non-heterosexual relationships adds an additional variable to the equation. Either way, increases in cohabitation stem from the drastic changes culture and society have endured in how men and women should acceptably participate in romantic relations. Now that we’ve understood why cohabitation is on the rise and that it is more likely to end in dissolution than in marriage, we can see why more children find themselves with a single parent today than did a few decades ago. More children (and also adults) in single-parent scenarios, means more people are placed in the generally unstable and psychologically challenging situation of that structure. That being said, I am curious to see the effects of single parenthood are on the children involved, and whether or not they could cause long-term effects.

Unfortunately, there is no room left to explore that today, and it will have to be covered next time. If you’ve stuck around this long, it is much appreciated, and I look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing “The Fall of the Family”: What It’s About and My Planned Accomplishments

Hello everyone! In leu of a what could be a predictably boring blog, covering some civic issue many of you would grant merely a cursory read to, I have decided to dig deeper into the roots of civic issues facing the United States and offer an intriguing and unbeknownst topic: The Fall of the Family. My first objective with this blog is to open a trove of major statistical and paradigm shifts regarding marriage, fatherlessness, declining faith and its impact on the family, and more. I then plan to sift through and provide analysis on those facets, hoping to conclude, with determinacy, the role of the collapsed nuclear family in various issues facing the United States.

Before cracking down on a particular issue, I would first like to introduce the six types of family structures, according to BetterHelp, a social impact company who often do therapy work with members of families during various crises. On the list as the most common type in the United States, although on evident decline, is the nuclear or traditional family, consisting of two parents (generally married) who raise biological or adopted kids together. The second type is a single-parent family, which consists of a father or mother raising children on their own due to a divorce, never marrying, or being widowed. The third type, although less common in some cultures than others, consists of parents, single or married, living with their own parents (the grandparents of the children) to give extra care to the children. The fourth type, often left out but becoming more common by choice, are childless families, formed due to an inability to have children or a decision not to. The final two types are stepfamilies and grandparent families, which are merged families and grandparents raising their grandchildren respectively.

It is doubtful that each of these types will be referenced, but it gives you an idea of how diverse the family structures are in the United States and introduces each of them.

First Post Coming Soon…