Family Trends
The Dissolution of the American Family
Where did the fathers go?
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RECOGNITION OF A DEVELOPING PROBLEM : THE MOYNIHAN REPORT
In 1965 Daniel Patrick Moynihan published a study titled “The Negro Family: The Case for National Action”. The Moynihan report detailed the problem of the breakdown of the African-American family. Moynihan was severely criticized at the time, but history has proved him right and the problem has only become progressively worse. Although the continuing deterioration is most severe in the black population, all other ethnic groups are following a parallel course.
WHAT ARE THE DATA?
The actual data may be viewed by clicking on the Family Trends pdf located on this page. The content of this appendix is discussed below. The data show that there has been a precipitous deterioration of the family structure in the United States for over the past half-century.
Births Out of Wedlock – Overall (Nationally and by Ethnic Groups)
Moynihan was concerned in 1965 that 25% of African-American babies were born out of wedlock; 45 years later that figure had soared to 72%. This alarming trend toward illegitimacy is manifested in every segment of American society as can be seen in Figure 1. This Figure shows the national data comparing non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black and Hispanic groups. The parallel escalation in the percentage of all births to unmarried women is striking.
Births Out of Wedlock – Grouped By Mother’s Age
The age groups of unmarried women who are having babies are displayed in Figure 2. In the year 2010 nine in ten children born to teenage mothers were born outside of marriage. This is a 6 fold increase since 1950. The increase among mothers in their early 20’s was 16 fold and for those mothers 30 years and older 10 fold. Unmarried women accounted for 41 % of all births in the United States.
Births Out of Wedlock (Percent) – Grouped By States
Figure 3 shows the percent of births to unmarried women according to the State in the year 2010. The overall figure for the United States was 41%.
Births Out of Wedlock (Percent) – Grouped By Cities
Figure 4 shows the percent of births to unmarried women according to Cities in the year 2010. The figure for Detroit, MI was 80%!
REPERCUSSION IN FAMILY UNITS
Living Arrangements of Children - Overall National Data
There has been a steady dissolution of the traditional family structure over recent decades. Figure 5 shows the cumulative national United States data for living arrangements of children. In 1970 eighty-five percent of all children lived with 2 married parents and 11% lived with the mother only. In 2011 these figures were 65% and 24%, respectively.
Living Arrangements of Children – Categorized by Ethnicity
Figure 6 displays the living arrangements of children categorized by White, Black and Hispanic according to whether they were living with 2 parents or with the mother only. In the year 2011 55% of black children lived with only 1 parent compared with 22% of white children.
Living Arrangements of Children – Categorized by Income Levels
Figure 7 plots the percent of children living with both parents according to income level and categorized by White, Black and Hispanic according to the 2011 American Community Survey. Blacks fared the worst for all income levels and whether above or below the poverty line. The United States map shows data from the 2010 Census giving the percent decline in families with two parents for the decade 2000-2010.
Living Arrangements of Children – Categorized by Absent Fathers
The percent of children living in homes without fathers in the year 2009 is shown in Figure 8. Approximately 50% of Black, 25% of Hispanic, 18 % of White, and 10% of Asian children do not live with their fathers.
What are the Economic Costs of Family Fragmentation?
A study entitled “The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing” was released April 2008 at the National Press Club. This was a collaborative research project by the Institute for American Values, Georgia Family Council, Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and Families Northwest. Using rigorous methodology they estimated that family fragmentation costs U.S. taxpayers (federal, state and local levels) at least $112 billion each year.