American Family Decline, 1960-1990: A Review and Appraisal

Contrary to the view of some academics that the family in America is not declining but just changing the thesis of this article is that family decline since 1960 has been extraordinarily steep and its social consequences serious especially for children. Drawing mainly on U.S. Census data family trends of the past three decades are reviewed. The evidence for family decline is appraised in three areas: demographic institutional and cultural. It is argued that families have lost functions power and authority that familism as a cultural value has diminished and that people have become less willing to invest time money and energy in family life turning instead to investments in themselves. Comments by Norval D. Glenn Judith Stacey and Philip A. Cowan and a reply by Popenoe are included (pp. 542-55). (EXCERPT)