Family Life Cycle

Introduction

Courtship: developing a relationship with an eye toward marriage or long-term partnership
Romantic love is crucial in some cultures (e.g., US), while others prefer arranged marriages
In arranged marriages, love isn't initially necessary, but may develop over time
Even in romantic societies, marriages often consider social and cultural compatibility
- Passion alone can be a less stable foundation for marriage
Homogamy: marrying someone with a similar social background
Propinquity: tendency to develop relationships with those physically nearby
Declining marriage rates, particularly in high-income countries
- Increase in unmarried individuals aged 35-44 (20% in 2010 vs 10% in previous generation)

Many Americans will marry at least once
Transition from courtship to marriage is crucial for family stability
- Honeymoon phase: initial years of excitement in marriage
- Infidelity can arise when passion fades (19% of women and 23% of men report cheating)
- Divorce rates and factors influencing them (e.g., No Fault divorce laws)
- Divorce more accepted, increased female workforce participation
Divorce rates have declined since the 1990s (closer to 1/3 for recent generations)
- Higher divorce rates in lower-income, less-educated groups

Increase in children born outside of marriage (40% overall, 9% for college-educated moms vs 58% for less educated)
Large families common in pre-industrial America; decline in child mortality led to smaller families
Current average family size: around 2.4 children
Average age for first birth: 26 (from 21 in 1970)
Factors influencing timing of childbirth: birth control, financial stability
High costs of raising children: ~$233,000 over childhood (excluding college costs)

Kids grow up and leave their parents' home, typically in early 20s
- Parents may experience empty nest syndrome but remain involved in their children's lives
Post-children stage: adults may care for aging parents (sandwich generation)

Variations in family structures: same-sex marriages, single-parent families, blended families
Increasing social acceptance and legal recognition of diverse family types
Single-parent families: about one-third of all families with children
- Higher rates in Black communities compared to non-Hispanic white communities
- Many children in single-parent homes still live with two parents (cohabiting couples)