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families, foster families, interracial families, childless couples
occur more and more frequently today than they ever did in
the past. We also speak about single-parent and, finally, two-
worker families.
Q. By the way, what is the average age for marriage in the United
States?
A. The average age for marriage in the United States has increased to
26.5 for men and 24.5 for women.
Q. The number of divorces is continuously increasing. The United
States has the highest separation and divorce rate in the world. Over
one million divorces occur each year in the country (half of them
within the first seven years of marriage). How can you account for
this increased divorce rate?
A. Divorce has become a sizable problem affecting every member of
the family. Couples get divorced for numerous reasons. The main
reason is that they expect a great deal from family life hoping to
find a constant source of personal satisfaction and happiness.
They forget that they must be not only takers but givers as well.
Second, women have experienced an increase in financial and
social independence. They don't depend on their husbands for the
basic necessities of life. Third, the economic situation of families
has made the employment of women a necessity rather than a
choice. Some women have been forced out into the workforce to
be employed for pay. Fourth, more women are seeking further
education and career opportunities. Fifth, changes in divorce laws
made divorce easier to obtain. Divorce can be graned both on
fault grounds (adultery, desertion, alcoholism, drug addiction,
failure to support, mental or physical cruelty) and non-fault
grounds (irreconcilable differences). Sixth, the public and
religious attitudes toward divorce have changed toward greater
acceptance.
Q. Some people believe that the rise in the number of one-parent
families indicates the deterioration of the family as well as the
deterioration of society. What do you think?
A. Undeniably, the number of family groups with children
maintained by single parents is rising. The majority of these
single-parent families are headed by women. This often causes
financial problems. The cost of child care causes an additional
financial burden.

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