The Families They are A-Changin'

[3113]

For your consideration....

According to a Times analysis of new U.S. Census figures, the Eisenpresser-Courtin-Davises are on the leading edge of change — of a steady evolution in the meaning of "family" and "home" in California.

New census figures show that the percentage of Californians who live in "nuclear family" households — a married man and a woman raising their children — has dropped again over the last decade, to 23.4% of all households. That represents a 10% decline in 10 years, measured as a percentage of the state's households.

Those households, the Times analysis shows, are being supplanted by a striking spectrum of postmodern living arrangements: same-sex households, unmarried opposite-sex partners, married couples who have no children. Some forms of households that were rare just a generation ago are becoming common; the number of single-father households in California, for instance, grew by 36% between 2000 and 2010.

Full story here.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

"According to the Times analysis". Uh-huh. I call it spin and spin to sell papers. Not that I wish the ladies any ill. I'm glad that they are able to get through life in a reasonably calm, adult manner. I find it encouraging that despite the first break-up, all three women are managing to raise a happy little girl. I hope for as much for the next one.

 

[TE999]

Polygamous marriages are on the rise too...and not just among Mormons. They're illegal in some states...(including Utah!) and there's an old Federal statute extant prohibiting polygamy. Five states still have anti-cohabitation laws on the books from the 1800's, but they are seldom enforced and may very well be found unconstitutional if challenged.

 

[Stella_Omega]

"According to the Times analysis". Uh-huh. I call it spin and spin to sell papers. Not that I wish the ladies any ill. I'm glad that they are able to get through life in a reasonably calm, adult manner. I find it encouraging that despite the first break-up, all three women are managing to raise a happy little girl. I hope for as much for the next one.

Are you suspecting angst and screaming and throwing of insults and crockery behind closed doors?

Would that invalidate the fact that "nucular" households are dwindling in proportion to the off-beat ones??

 

[TE999]

... the fact that "nucular" households are dwindling in proportion to the off-beat ones??

Hence the rising hysteria in certain quarters about the adoption of the so-called 'Defense of Marriage Act'. Try as one might, you can't mandate social change. The Volstead Act (Prohibition) is an excellent example.

 

[3113]

Hence the rising hysteria in certain quarters about the adoption of the so-called 'Defense of Marriage Act'. Try as one might, you can't mandate social change. The Volstead Act (Prohibition) is an excellent example.

Well, you can but not if you've got "Freedom of Religion" in your constitution. Places with a theocracy have a much easier time being both "dry" and "nuclear." Doesn't mean their people are happy or doing what they really want, but there you go.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Are you suspecting angst and screaming and throwing of insults and crockery behind closed doors?

Would that invalidate the fact that "nucular" households are dwindling in proportion to the off-beat ones??

Nah, I'm just saying that most of the Times world centers around Westwood and what happens down here in the South Bay is beneath their notice. Look as I might, I just don't see much in the way of off-beat families around my quiet little suburb. Yes, there's what may be a gay couple down the street (best gardeners on the block!) and a single other or so but most houses around contain married-with-children. Jus' sayin'.

 

[stephen55]

Are you suspecting angst and screaming and throwing of insults and crockery behind closed doors?

Would that invalidate the fact that "nucular" households are dwindling in proportion to the off-beat ones??

"New census figures show that the percentage of Californians who live in "nuclear family" households — a married man and a woman raising their children — has dropped again over the last decade, to 23.4% of all households. That represents a 10% decline in 10 years, measured as a percentage of the state's households."
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0623-census-marriage-families-20110623,0,3978165.story

If nuclear families (married mom and dad, raising their kids) represent less than one quarter of households...doesn't that make them the "off-beat" ones?

 

[3113]

If nuclear families (married mom and dad, raising their kids) represent less than one quarter of households...doesn't that make them the "off-beat" ones?

Damn hippies.

 

[stephen55]

Damn hippies.

Yup, yup, yup...

http://www.danablankenhorn.com/images/2007/11/16/bill_and_hillary_as_hippies.jpg

http://www.mind360.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/aging-hippies-200x300.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/1262424473_49260be427.jpg

 

[Stella_Omega]

The nuclear family norm aren't offbeat yet. When the time comes that their assumptions and moral precepts can no longer control the democratic process then they might be considered... well, they still won't be quite "offbeat" since the object of a family is to raise kids. But the whole notion won't be the bellwether of what is Good and Right any longer. Of course many folk feel demeaned by that eventuality.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Damn hippies.

Well, I keep hoping for a commune but HM disapproves. I mean, we wouldn't have to dress like this

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/1262424473_49260be427.jpg,

would we? Where is it written that a hippie commune can't look like the squirearchy?

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s150/TraderRic/Tweeds229.jpg

 

[stephen55]

The nuclear family norm aren't offbeat yet. When the time comes that their assumptions and moral precepts can no longer control the democratic process then they might be considered... well, they still won't be quite "offbeat" since the object of a family is to raise kids. But the whole notion won't be the bellwether of what is Good and Right any longer. Of course many folk feel demeaned by that eventuality.

About now, having brought our first into the world three decades ago and with two still left in the house, the prime objective of this family is to kick the ingrates the hell out into the world!

 

[TE999]

Places with a theocracy have a much easier time being both "dry" and "nuclear." Doesn't mean their people are happy or doing what they really want, but there you go.

Smells like Muslim Spirit.