Are Traditional Families Becoming the Minority?

It goes without saying that society has changed tremendously in the past few decades. Traditional families used to include a father, mother, and several children. Now, the definition of family is changing. Different social views mean that the concept of a traditional marriage has changed. With divorced families, racially mixed families, step families, unmarried couples, gay couples, adopting parents, and single adopting parents, there are many different ways to define what a family is. According to the Census Bureau, married couples have dropped below half of all American households. This shows that traditional marriages and traditional families are starting to become the minority as social views and values change.

The Iconic Image

Many people have an idea of what the American family looks like, but this view has long been outdated. Images of married couples with children have always been used in the marketing world, but now we see changes in the couple portrayed. While it used to be a man and woman with two or more children, advertisers are now using mixed couples, single men or women, and children of different nationalities in their advertisements. This is due to an ever-changing society where 48 percent of American households represent a married family, but only a fifth of these households are married. While the 1950s version of marriage and family is dated, many people in society still strive toward this goal. There are some places in America that view this traditional family as the only acceptable option and are often unwilling to accept changing views on marriage and family.

Changing Society

According to many new studies, the traditional view of family began to change after the 1950s when women moved into the workforce. Society started to grow more secular, and marriage began to lose a little of its authority. Additionally, we now see college-educated women becoming less likely to marry a person who is not college educated. Some of the women who do not obtain a college education will have children out of wedlock and choose not to marry the father of the child. The common reasoning behind these changes relates to changing economic times and how people view themselves. Employment instability has a direct impact on marriage rates, and right now it is causing rates to decline. People feel they can make enough money to pay for the needs of a child and themselves, but paying for the needs of a spouse can be challenging, so they opt to stay single.

Accepting Differences

The other reason for a decreased rate of marriage is related to an aging population that is living longer. These elderly singles are growing in number tremendously, and many of them choose to stay single through their last days. Many immigrants are also single and remain so for several years. 

Society’s view of homosexuality also has an influence on changes to traditional marriage. Barack Obama has won wide acclaim for his view of marriage equality. His support of gay marriage and equality rights is revolutionary for many people, as he is the first president to openly support these changes. This is another reason why America is seeing changes to traditional marriage and families. 

This article was provided by Kelly Elder, socially conscious live-in nanny. If you're looking to spoil your special someone or pop the question to your significant other, Kelly suggests being creative with custom and artisan jewelry.