The FamilyThe FamilyDissolving or Evolving ?Dissolving or Evolving ?

2004-2007 ISS Theme Project Kick-off Lecture

Professor Elizabeth Peters

April 20, 2005

Motivation…Motivation…

Increase in Single Parent Families

-Increase in divorce -Increase in non-marital childbearing

Increasing Rates ofNon-Marital Childbearing

Percent of Births to Unmarried Women,

Selected Countries

54 53

42 39 3732

27 25

18

11 96

1 1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Perc

ent

Non

-Mar

ital

Percent of nonmarital births to cohabiting couples by maternal characteristics: United States 1980-1984 and 1990-1994

53

22

50

20

35

39

41

39

48

21

33

20

23

25

37

29

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Hispanic

Black

Non-Hispanic white

College graduate

Some college

High school

Less than high school

Total

1980-1984

1990-1994

Increasing Rates of Cohabitation

2935

5055

49 52

6470

58 62

7278

0102030405060708090

whi te wi thchi l d<1

whi te wi thchi l d<6

bl ack wi thchi l d<1

bl ack wi thchi l d<6

197519852000

Increase in labor force participation ratesIncrease in labor force participation rates of married women with young childrenof married women with young children

Consequences for children of changes in Consequences for children of changes in family structure and allocation of time and family structure and allocation of time and money within the familymoney within the family

Public policy interest in children Public policy interest in children and familiesand families

Research Questions: FatherhoodResearch Questions: FatherhoodWhat factors influence the timing of biological fatherhood What factors influence the timing of biological fatherhood and the circumstances under which fatherhood occurs and the circumstances under which fatherhood occurs (e.g., marital or not; residential or not)?(e.g., marital or not; residential or not)?

What is the relationship between fatherhood and other What is the relationship between fatherhood and other transitions to adulthood, such as marriage, educational transitions to adulthood, such as marriage, educational completion, and entry into the workforce?completion, and entry into the workforce?

What are the determinants of responsible fathering?What are the determinants of responsible fathering?

What are the factors that lead men to have children with What are the factors that lead men to have children with more than one partner?more than one partner?

What are the effects of fathers on child development?What are the effects of fathers on child development?

Research Questions: MarriageResearch Questions: MarriageCultural change in the meaning of marriageCultural change in the meaning of marriage– disconnect between childbearing and marriagedisconnect between childbearing and marriage– increasing ambivalence about the value of marriage increasing ambivalence about the value of marriage

Increase in Age at Marriage

Marriage, con’tMarriage, con’t

Changing in other attitudes and social Changing in other attitudes and social normsnorms– growing prominence of work and career for growing prominence of work and career for

womenwomen– larger number of inter-racial, inter-ethnic, and larger number of inter-racial, inter-ethnic, and

inter-faith marriagesinter-faith marriages– increasing tolerance of sexual partnerships increasing tolerance of sexual partnerships

between gays and lesbiansbetween gays and lesbians

Public Opinion on Gay and Lesbian Issues

24

34

46

39

53

41

49

57

23 25

5 4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Would you favor alaw allow ing

homosexual couplesto legally get

married? (Gallup2004)

Would you favor alaw allow ing

homosexual couplesto form civil unions,giving them some ofthe legal rights asmarried couples?

(Gallup 2004)

Should homosexualsex be legal in the

United States?(Gallup 2004)

Should homosexualsex be legal in the

United States?(Gallup 1988)

Yes/Favor

No/Oppose

No Opinion

Cross-cutting ThemesCross-cutting Themes

What are the differences in opportunities, constraints, behavior, and What are the differences in opportunities, constraints, behavior, and outcomes by race, ethnicity and social class?outcomes by race, ethnicity and social class?

How do family processes and investments in children differ across How do family processes and investments in children differ across family types, and how do these behaviors affect child outcomes?family types, and how do these behaviors affect child outcomes?

What is the impact of different social, educational, and What is the impact of different social, educational, and neighborhood environments on family processes and child neighborhood environments on family processes and child outcomes? How do family processes and investments interact with outcomes? How do family processes and investments interact with the resources that are available in communities?the resources that are available in communities?

How do social policies affect marriage and family formation, family How do social policies affect marriage and family formation, family processes, father involvement, and child outcomes?processes, father involvement, and child outcomes?

How does biology affect behaviors and outcomes (e,g, the How does biology affect behaviors and outcomes (e,g, the propensity to marry, monogamy, committed fatherhood, and propensity to marry, monogamy, committed fatherhood, and investments in children)?investments in children)?

INTACT FAMILYINTACT FAMILY

STEP FAMILYSTEP FAMILY

Core Team MembersCore Team MembersElizabeth Peters, Policy Analysis Elizabeth Peters, Policy Analysis Elizabeth Adkins-Regan, PsychologyElizabeth Adkins-Regan, PsychologyStephen Emlen, Neurobiology & BehaviorStephen Emlen, Neurobiology & BehaviorKathryn March, Anthroplogy & FGSSKathryn March, Anthroplogy & FGSSMaureen Waller, Policy AnalysisMaureen Waller, Policy AnalysisElaine Wethington, Human DevelopmentElaine Wethington, Human DevelopmentMary Katzenstein, GovernmentMary Katzenstein, GovernmentMichael Goldstein, PsychologyMichael Goldstein, PsychologyStefan Klonner, EconomicsStefan Klonner, EconomicsLinda Williams, Development SociologyLinda Williams, Development SociologyClaire Kamp Dush, ISS Post-docClaire Kamp Dush, ISS Post-docAffiliate membersAffiliate members

Courses on the Family: AY 05-06Courses on the Family: AY 05-06

Fatherhood, Marriage and Family PolicyFatherhood, Marriage and Family Policy– Mary Katzenstein and Elaine WethingtonMary Katzenstein and Elaine Wethington– Fall 2005: GOVT 201/HD201Fall 2005: GOVT 201/HD201

Parenting and Child DevelopmentParenting and Child Development– Michael GoldsteinMichael Goldstein – Fall 2005: PSYCH 478; PSYCH 678; HD 444Fall 2005: PSYCH 478; PSYCH 678; HD 444

The Family in Asia: Perspectives from The Family in Asia: Perspectives from Economics and SociologyEconomics and Sociology– Stefan Klonner and Lindy WilliamsStefan Klonner and Lindy Williams– Spring 2006: ECON 4900/ Dev SOC 494Spring 2006: ECON 4900/ Dev SOC 494

Other ActivitiesOther Activities

Classroom activitiesClassroom activities– New classesNew classes– Integrate family theme into existing classesIntegrate family theme into existing classes

Distinguished speaker seriesDistinguished speaker series

Other visiting scholarsOther visiting scholars

ConferencesConferences