When both parents must bring in income it changes family dynamics. In past the family has had a patriarchal, or a male in power structure. Typically in a heterosexual marriage a women will be brought to a higher status because of financial security and may make the male partner fell insecure or not needed. In this transition from male centered to having both male and female head of the family it creates an egalitarian family where male and females share equal status. Thus the family dynamics must adjust to allow new gender roles into marriage.
Other significant changes in U.S. Families over the last 50 years.
Increase in teen pregnancy.
Wider acceptance of non-traditional families: gay and lesbian headed families.
More single-mothers on welfare.
More divorce.
Economy has catalyzed enormous changes in family structure, from two -working parents to absentee parents; economy has a serious effect on family. Media is also a key player in the transformation of family dynamics. In showing women as sex objects, it creates a casual atmosphere around relationships and sex. As a booming pornography and prostitution business skyrocket women's place in society drops, also their status as prospective partners. No one variable can be blamed, it is more of a combination of all of media, government policies, society attitudes of relationships that all add up to changing family. .
Clinton's sexual practices brought up on national news. Clearly politics have changed in the last 50 years. In the past politics had no place in the family. The family was a sacred social institution to be isolated from political agendas. Now family is the sole issue of some politicians. In every right wing politician repertoire there exists some rationalization that everything wrong in the world can be linked back to the breakdown of family values. To a member of the "moral majority- they would blame the situations in Schoolgirls (Orenstein, 1994) on lack of family involvement on the part of the girls.
