Non-Traditional Families in Modern Times

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the transformation of the traditional American family and the impact of the non-traditional family in today's world. The paper explains that the non-traditional family is called a "blended family" and is more prevalent today than thirty years ago because divorce rates are rising and remarriages are much more common. The paper notes that significant changes are occurring in the marriage patterns in the United States, as individuals are postponing marriage until later in life and more people are choosing not to get married. The paper also points out that the area where change is most apparent centers around patterns of child-bearing. The paper then discusses the various types of non-traditional families. The paper contends that , for all types of non-traditional families, the changes will only come from shifts in cultural prejudices and this kind of change will be slow, but there are signs that some preliminary movement is beginning to take place.

From the Paper:

"The image of the American family looks and functions very differently than families of the past few decades. Men and women raised in the 1960's and 1970's when programs such as "Ozzie and Harriet" and "Father Knows Best" exemplify the average family, are likely to find themselves in situations that have changed dramatically. Research claims that many family structures are common: single-parent families, remarried couples, unmarried couples, step families, foster families, multi-generational families, extended families, and the doubling up of two families within the same home. Marriage, divorce, and patterns of childbirth are some of the factors that have contributed to these significant changing families. With these changes come the possibility of remarriage and the creation of new families which bring together parents and children without blood ties."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ahlburg, Dennis and Carol J. DeVita. "New Realities of the American Family." Population Bulletin. Aug. 1992: 20-28.
• SIRS. Family, 4, 96. Andrews, Jan. Divorce and the American Family. New York: Library of Congress Catalog, 1978.
• Boyd, Monica and Doug Norris. "Leaving the Nest? The Impact of Family Structure." Canadian Social Trends. 15 Oct. 1995: 14-17.
• SIRS. Family, 5, 58. Feifer, George. Divorce: An Oral Portrait. New York: The New Press, 1995.
• Herbert, Wray. "When Strangers Become Family." U.S. News and World Report 29 Nov. 1999: 59-67.

More papers on Non-Traditional Families in Modern Times:

• Persuasive Essay # 145040 : "The Role of Non-Traditional Families"
• Term Paper # 129266 : "Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Roles in Marriage"
• Comparison Essay # 46515 : "Traditional and Non-traditional Families"

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