The Multiple Possibilities of Decency
Family and Society in American History
ResearchPublished 1980
Text of a speech which discusses the American family, determining its health by placing it in historical context. The family is not, as experts have maintained, in decay. Certain recent assumptions — that extended, not nuclear families were previously the norm, and that black families lack traditions because of their slavery background — are false. While no longer the "little commonwealth," the family remains a significant socializing institution. Each generation perceives itself "in crisis" and exaggerates the extent: while the divorce rate is alarming, it has seemed so for generations; and the current single-parent families are not vastly different from those resulting from parental death last century. Marriage is changing, but not disintegrating; more people get married now, and more marriages produce children. To overcome pessimism and frustration, we should approach child rearing open-mindedly, with respect for American pluralism. The American family is a resilient institution presently evolving in ways that permit optimism.
Document Details
- Copyright: RAND Corporation
- Availability: Available
- Year: 1980
- Print Format: Paperback
- Paperback Pages: 26
- Paperback Price: $20.00
- Document Number: P-6512
Citation
RAND Style Manual
Chicago Manual of Style
Schlossman, Steven L., The Multiple Possibilities of Decency: Family and Society in American History, RAND Corporation, P-6512, 1980. As of September 12, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P6512.html
Schlossman, Steven L., The Multiple Possibilities of Decency: Family and Society in American History. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1980. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P6512.html. Also available in print form.
This publication is part of the RAND paper series. The paper series was a product of RAND from 1948 to 2003 that captured speeches, memorials, and derivative research, usually prepared on authors' own time and meant to be the scholarly or scientific contribution of individual authors to their professional fields. Papers were less formal than reports and did not require rigorous peer review.
This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.