New Families, No Families?

Is the American family a thing of the past? Almost anyone can tell a story that illustrates how dramatically things have changed in the past decades. Non-marriage, childlessness, and divorce are commonplace. Most children leave their parents' home and live for an increasing period entirely outside of families. There are also signs that families are not disintegrating but simply changing, as parents play more equal roles both financially and in coping with household tasks. In this revealing study, the authors discuss cogently the question of whether we are headed for no families, or new families.