Soc 252: Sociology of the Family

W. Bradford Wilcox National Marriage Project University of Virginia



Where are we headed?  1. The Retreat from Marriage in America

 2. The Impact on Education  3. The Impact on the Catholic Church  4. What Can Universities Do?

2



Since the 1960s, the U.S. has witnessed a marked retreat from marriage. The institution of marriage has lost authority, power, and social functions.  Marriage is less likely to anchor the adult life

course  Marriage is less likely to frame adult sexual and/or coresidential romantic relationships  Marriage is less likely to provide a stable context for the bearing and rearing of children

3

Percentage of Persons Age 35 through 44 Who Were Married, by Sex, 1960– 2008, U.S. Census Bureau 100 95

Percent

90 88

89 84

85

Men Women

80

74

75 70 65 1960

69 1970

1980

1990

2000

66 2009

Year

4

5



Percent of married adults reporting “very happy” 75

70

70

68 66

Men

65 65

66

63

63

63

64 62

60

55 1973–1976

1977–1981

1982–1986

60

60

1987–1991

1993–1996

61 1998–2002

Women

60 2004–2008

6

Number of Unmarried Cohabiting Adult Opposite-Sex Couples, by Year, United States

Number in Millions

8

7.5

7 6 5 4

3.8 2.9

3 2

1.6

1 0

0.4

1960

0.5 1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

Year 7

Percentage of Live Births to Unmarried Women, by Year, United Statesa Percentage of Live Births to Unmarried Women, by Year, United Statesa

80 70

Percent

Percent

60

50 40

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 5 10 0 1960

28

10

18

11

Blacks

41

1970

1980

1990 28

2000

33

All

2008

Year

18 5

All

Whites

30 20

41

33

Blacks

11 Whites

0

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2008

Year 8

Percentage of Children Under Age 18 Living with Two Married Parents by Year and Race, Source: NMP 2010 90

88

Percentage

80

85 77

70

73

69

67

60 50

All Blacks Whites

40 30 1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2009

Year

9



The retreat from marriage has hit working class and poor Americans especially hard.



College-educated Americans have been much less affected by this retreat.

10

90%

80% 81% 80%

70%

74% 65% 58%

60%

1974–81

52%

2000–07

50%

40%

30%

Least-educated Mother

Moderately Educated Mother

Highly Educated Mother 11



The nation’s (stratified) retreat from marriage means that children who are fortunate enough to come from an intact, married family are more likely to  Graduate from high school & college.



Young adults who live chastely are more likely to flourish in college: ▪ Chaste women have fewer emotional problems; ▪ Chaste men do better academically.

% Teens dropping out of high school 20 15 US

10 5 0 Intact

Single

Family Status

Source: McLanahan and Sandefur 1994

13

Percent of Young Adults Graduating from College (Add Health 2008) 40

38

35

30

25

20 20

15

10

5

0

Intact

Non-intact



Thus, children who hail from intact, married homes are more likely to succeed in their academic vocations.



Unfortunately, given the fact that marriage is now strongest among the most educated and affluent Americans, this means that children from these homes are often doubly advantaged by  their parents’ marriage & socioeconomic resources.



Mix of Hanging Out, Hooking Up, Joined at the Hip, Semi-traditional Dating



No single set of courtship norms and common courtship practices to guide relationships.



40-64% of college students report hooking up (Regnerus 2011).



Psychological effects are more profound for women  One study: In previous year for those who hooked

up: ▪ Women: ▪ 49% reported a negative reaction ▪ 25% reported an ambivalent reaction ▪ 26% reported a positive reaction

▪ Men: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

26% reported a negative reaction 24% reported an ambivalent reaction 50% reported a positive reaction Source: (Owen et al 2009)

20

20

20

18 15

16 14 12 12

10 10 8

Men

7

8 6 6 4 2 0

Zero

One

Two-Five

Women

Six+



Players get distracted  Economist Joseph Sabia (2007) finds that

sexually active young men do significantly poorer in their academic work ▪ The pleasures of sex “may induce boys to choose immediate investments in sex over schooling.” ▪ Status & pleasure > school



The fortunes of the Catholic Church in the U.S. rise & fall with the fortunes of the intact, married family  Intact married families ▪ Successfully socialize children into the faith & ▪ Orient adults to the moral, social, & spiritual goods found in the faith

20



Parenthood draws adults into the Church  1) Parenthood is a generative experience

 2) Churches supply religious and moral education

to children  3) Churches offer parent-centered social networks where parents receive social support & counsel

21



Marriage fosters higher religious practice  1) The Church lends social, religious, and moral

support to marriage  2) Marriage associated with prosocial norms  3) Churches supply marriage-centered networks to couples

22

Percent More/Less Likely to Attend than Unmarried, No Kids

Family Demography and Weekly Religious Attendance among U.S. Adults (18-60)

70% 62% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 14% 10% 0% Married with Kids -10% Unmarried with Kids Married, No Kids -20% -30% -23% Source: General Social Survey (1972-2008) Note: Analysis controls for income, education, race, ethnicity, region, sex, age, and year. 23

Percent Attending 2 Times a Month or More (Source: GSS) 50 45

44

40

39

35 30 25 20

1970s

2000s 24



How can Catholic colleges & universities strengthen marriage?  Require classes that provide a theological & social

scientific view of marriage  Act In Loco Parentis

25



Most colleges & universities are doing poorly in preparing the next generation for one of the most important sources of meaning and purpose in life— the vocation of marriage.



For instance, most students are ignorant of the fact that premarital sex is a risk factor for divorce (Paik 2011).



Catholic colleges can remedy this ignorance with theological & sociological classes.

26



Given the academic, marital, & religious importance of renewing the collegiate relationship culture, Catholic colleges and universities should  Support single-sex dorms

 Rely on parietals to govern visitation  Support student groups seeking to educate their

peers about sex & marriage  Make the sacraments readily available to students.