R. Gaull Silberman Center for Collegiate Studies
A Freeze on Families?
by Hadley Heath
August 10, 2009
Almost everyone has been touched by the economic crisis and the sharp rise in unemployment. Yet students just finishing college face a particular challenge in planning the next few years of their lives. In fact, 63 percent of American college graduates in the class of 2009 didn't have jobs when they got their diplomas this spring. A lot of those students had job offers rescinded during the 2008-2009 school year as a result of the job market slump.
Research suggests that an economic downturn affects many decisions people make, not just in relation to their careers, but also in their personal lives. While this may be a natural reaction to the financial squeeze, it's important for students to recognize that some things-like families-are worth investing in during bad economic times as well as good. Unfortunately, research suggests that's a lesson many miss: During the past few decades, factors such as employment rates, per capita income, and industrial production have been strongly associated with aggregate nuptial rates.
This economic decline isn't the only factor discouraging young couples from considering marriage. Today, the pressure for college students to remain single is great. Young marriage is certainly not considered "sexy," and pop-culture TV shows like "Engaged and Underage" portray young fiancés as unwise and rash. Although some people do it, getting an engagement ring before a class ring is considered by most modern Americans to be out of order.
The average marriage age for women in the United States has increased from around 20 in 1950 to 26 at present. One would expect that with increasing numbers of students going on to graduate school, the average age for marriage would climb even higher. It's been said that, "graduate school is the new college." If this is so, more students will likely wait until their masters degrees are in hand before giving their hands in marriage.
While historical data suggests that we can expect a nuptial slowdown due to the economic slowdown, figures from the current wedding industry are encouraging. They report that weddings are happening at the same rate as recent years, but that couples are spending much less money on getting married.
That's smart financial planning, since the wise student knows to look past the wedding ceremony to the marriage, which has many financial benefits. Marriage enables a couple to pool resources-not a bad idea during an economic crisis. And married graduate students are actually much more likely to complete their degrees and to do so in a timely fashion than single students or cohabitating students.
Having babies is another story. According to a U.S.D.A. study, before the age of 2, a child can cost at least $7,800 per year. When it's trouble enough to take care of the existing members of the family, the idea of bringing new members into the world sounds like a challenge. For younger couples, this might mean delaying the birth of their first child. For older couples this might mean that they will stop at the number of children they have currently.
It is a historical trend that birth rates dip during recessions. During the Great Depression, birth rates hit a low of 2.1 births per woman, and during economic hard times in the 1970's, birth rates dipped to an all-time American low of 1.7 (and birth control was more accessible in the 1970's too). Interest in adoption is declining as well, and foster parenting is less popular.
It's not surprising that joblessness and tough times affect people's decision about marriage and family. Yet our country shouldn't lose sight of the central role of families in our lives.
Of course it may not make sense to have a child while looking for work, but families can continue to plan for children in the future. Married people experience generally higher rates of happiness, probably due to the rewards of long-term, committed companionship. That's something for young, independent singles to keep in mind: Aspects of single-life may certainly bring enjoyment, but families can support each other in good times and bad, which is something money just can't buy.
16 Comments
Courtney | August 24, 2009, 8:27am | #
Are you sure this is the INDEPENDENT Women's Forum? This sounds like republican dribble.
Who cares why people aren't getting married?
Sometimes your friends are your family.
Maybe some people are postponing marriage until their gay and lesbian friends can get married.
We don't need more kids on this earth. There are plenty that need to be adopted but of course you aren't worried about that.
M | August 25, 2009, 3:45pm | #
I feel really sorry for young women especially, because they are under so pressure to have careers before marriage and children, yet at the same time, usually have a limited age range of easy fertility. Maybe we need to rethink young marriages and early childbearing. And if you're going to stay home with a baby, maybe staying home during a recession isn't such a bad idea.
geezermom | August 27, 2009, 12:11pm | #
Hadley, during the great depression, people postponed family and marriage, and divorce as well. After the dust settled, the divorce rate started to climb again, and the baby boom happened! Families are still out there, and strong as ever; they are just evolving. Gay people are forming families, elderly people are getting by with “naturally occurring congregate living arrangements” (not my words, Census bureau jargon to describe “golden girls” households) and POOSSLQ’s—people of opposite sex sharing living quarters.
I would like to encourge everyone to tell your congressmen what you think about the public GOPtion: be born rich, and don’t get sick!
Tim Moon | September 1, 2009, 9:59pm | #
Why do you people use scare tactics and flat out lie to the American public? You are hurting the very people you claim to be helping and are just lieing for the insurance companies...I hope the Insurance Companies DIE! After this crazy, nutty campaign!
Kristen Smith | September 1, 2009, 9:59pm | #
I wonder if UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE would enable more young couple to have children? How can the author of this article ignore that aspect of preparing for pregnancy? I would have loved to have a baby when I was waitressing at night and had family for childcare, but we didn't have insurance. How many young couples have decent jobs but are delaying families because the health care costs are so high?
Clarissa | September 2, 2009, 2:14am | #
My husband and I want a baby but are scared to death because we can't afford health care. Neither of our jobs offer it and we don't qualify for Medicaid. Of course we don't HAVE to have a child, but we'd like to within the next few years. I've only got a few more years of child-bearing time, so I need health insurance NOW. The public option is my only option. We're actually waiting to get pregnant once we're insured. So this organization saying "no" is basically telling me I can't have a child.
To campaign against public insurance is just cruel. Why are all these people against the idea of everyone getting health care? What happened to them that they are so mean and cold inside? It's scary how selfish these people are.
Joanne | September 2, 2009, 1:09pm | #
Amazing. I was without insurance for a month earlier this year and my 1 year-old daughter needed to go get her checkup and her shots. COBRA premium: $1300. Well visit cost with shots: $440. Neither one was an affordable option, so I worked out a payment plan with the doctor's office. And that was one small example of someone who just had a GAP in coverage rather than not having any coverage at all.
It is irresponsible to assert that young people should marry and start their families during difficult economic times just because, " ...our country shouldn't lose sight of the central role of families in our lives. " If this were the country where I was born, I wouldn't have to worry about my baby getting her shots and proper health care because the government would have had something in place to cover her, at no expense to me and my husband. But this is America! If you don't have two dimes to rub together, you may as well say a prayer that you remain healthy because otherwise you'd be in some serious trouble.
Holly | September 5, 2009, 6:51pm | #
If getting married and having children is so great for everyone, why does this country keep gay and lesbian couples from getting married?
If economic factors are what's keeping young couples from getting married and having children, then it seems that universal healthcare would be a means to this end. Vote "YES" on the public option!
Also, I checked the bio on the author of this article. It seems she's about to graduate college, but says nothing about getting married or marriage plans in the near future. Why the delay? Time is running out...
a real person | September 9, 2009, 2:42pm | #
i agree completely with this post. all women should be barefoot, pregnant, uneducated and in the kitchen. what ever happened to this great country ?
Torrence | September 9, 2009, 10:58pm | #
Hadley, you're just dumb as hell...
Jen | September 11, 2009, 3:04pm | #
If health care costs are so high, why aren't we working to change the actual cost rather than trying to find someone to pay the bills for us?
Insurance isn't the best answer, especially not for maternity - many insurance policies have a maternity deductible of around $5000, which is the average cost of a doctor-assisted delivery, so you are basically paying for the whole thing out of pocket anyway. Midwives delivering in a hospital have lower fees, and licensed midwives delivering at home are even less expensive. There are affordable ways to have children in college without turning to a handout.
I'm 26, married 2 1/2 years, have a bachelor's degree, and 19 weeks pregnant. Husband is working on a masters degree at the moment.
chelsea | September 17, 2009, 3:38pm | #
your a crazy person. it is overrated to get married..... if your independent woman you wouldn't be whining that you can't get married
chelsea | September 17, 2009, 3:46pm | #
and getting married while your underaged is frowned on in present days because your parents don't force you like it used to be. and many people jump into marriage, especially young, and that leads to divorce. back in the day the wife did what ever the husband said, now everyone is free to express their opinions. i still think your crazy and your high school picture is ridiculous.-chelsea
Nancy Rice | September 20, 2009, 8:43pm | #
I am a 60 year old African American woman of Canadian descent who decided to live here and moved here in 1972... Growing up in the 60's I have always considered myself a liberal with pro-black ideas... I now see myself as a spirtually minded person who wants the best for all human beings, especially children... I am definitely not a Republican and can't stand FOX News' garbage and the continued bashing of our president.. Because of my conservative beliefs and my understanding for the need for strong family values and the best for our children, many would consider me a Republican... I am not a Republican... I am an Independent who has a mind of my own... We don't have to agree with every article and Independent Forum writer presents...
Erica | September 21, 2009, 10:03pm | #
Another reason some folks are waiting or not having multiple children is because of over population and not JUST the economy. We are destroying this planet faster than it can recover and birthing more consumers is seen (in some circles) as being ecologically irresponsible.
For those who DO what to have children and who need to watch their cash flow, you can scale back on how much you spend. I always laugh at how expensive people say it is to care for a baby in the first couple of years. They don't NEED a whole bunch of stuff and there are plenty of second hand stores. Also, nursing your baby is cheaper than formula and better for her/him. I had the luxury of staying at home with my son though and understand how hard it is to keep nursing when you return to work.
I am a U.S. born Canadian who believes that Universal Health Care is the key to a healthy nation. In Canada, not only do citizens enjoy an ethic of care for one another, maternity leave is in most cases a YEAR, yes, ONE YEAR. When Republicans talk about "family values" they are referring to elitist ideals -- supporting families means supporting family caregivers (of older adults AND young children), and this country does not have a good record of doing that. When times are tough, and even when they are not, it takes a village... what villages need are folks willing to care for one another -- not something I see demonstrated in this country where the individual reigns supreme.
The woman who wrote this article needs to stay in school -- sounds to me like her learning has been narrow!
Veronica Raj | October 1, 2009, 7:49pm | #
I love how many women here have included their personal truths and experiences. Seriously, what is the deal with this website?
Women should not have children if they cannot afford them. That is one of the biggest problems with our country today - too many people breeding with not enough money. How can you campaign against health care while encouraging young women to reproduce? There are too many people, in the world, and in this country as well. Just because there are a handful of people who are rich doesn't mean that we, as a society, have money. The average family, the average woman, cannot afford health care. The average job does not offer it - and some that do charge up to $200/week for standard coverage. If you can't afford condoms, if you can't afford birth control pills - you most certainly cannot afford a child.
I have the unique perspective of being the oldest of six children born in an impoverished family. I will the first of my family to receive a college education.
Many of us in this generation that are or soon will be graduating from college have also experienced first-hand the consequences of young marriage - many of us grew up in "broken" homes.
I am proud to be of a generation that not only values marriage enough to THINK about it first, but that also understands that becoming a parent is a BIG DEAL, that many of our parents' were ill-equipped to deal with it - and that we want better for our next generation.
- V