Social Change

Donna Harris

OMM612 Organizational Behavior

Social Change Research Paper

Darlene Pomponio

November 15, 2010

Family dynamics have changed a lot over the last fifty-sixty years. When you think of family the first thing that comes to mind is the traditional family that includes a dad, a mom, 2 kids, and a dog. The father was the sole breadwinner and the mother stayed at home. Different family forms have become more acceptable to American society. I will explore what defines a family, what’s considered normal, the role of men and women, what drives family forms, and how and why marriage, cohabitation and divorce has changed.

Defining the family

There are many different family types in the United States including two-parent families, one-parent families, cohabitating couples, gay and lesbian families, and extended-family households (Teachman, Tedrow, and Crowder, 2000). According to the United States Census, family is referred to a group of two or more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together in a household (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2010). The United States Census Bureau defines a married couple as a husband and wife living together in the same household, with or without children and other relatives. An unmarried couple is defined as two unrelated adults of the opposite sex who share a housing unit with or without the presence of children under 15 years old (Teachman, Tedrow, and Crowder). A cohabitating family is defined as those in which the child’s parent is living with at least one nonrelated adult of the opposite sex (U.S. Census Bureau).

What’s Considered Normal?

It is quite clear that the American Family life is changing. In 1960, 45 percent of American households were made up of a married man and woman and one or more children. In 2000, less than a quarter of American households were made up of a married man and woman and one or more children (Beam, 2005). Americans are no longer leaning towards the traditional...