Cohort Variations in Family Life Cycle Experiences of U. S. Females

A family life cycle typologyforfemales between ages 15 and 50 is developed to provide a measure offamily change and diversity. The typology describes five possible life cycle courses: early death, spinster, childless, broken marriage-with children, and preferred. Then the distribution of white and nonwhitefemales in birth cohorts from 1890-94 through 1930-34 according to type of life cycle experienced are calculated. The trend over this 40-year period and differences between white and nonwhite family structure are discussed on the basis of these calculations.