In this article, it talks about the affects that social classes have on family life. By family life, it mainly focuses on marriages, birthrates and family dynamics. As you can see in the image below, first marriage divorce is much more common for couples with low socioeconomic statuses, than they are for those couples with higher statuses, in the upper and middle classes. The article also suggests that social class plays a role in shaping family structures. Research shows that the birth rate in countries with the majority of the population in lower social classes is higher than that of those of their wealthier counterparts. In fact, demographers have made a direct connection between average number of children per household and the economic development of a nation. It can also go the other way around. Social class can be affected by the family dynamic of a home. According to the article, single parent households are typically in a lower social class because it goes against the social norms of family life and dynamics.
I found this article to be very interesting. It made a few really good points. For instance, it talked about how marriages among couples of lower classes are more likely to end than they would in a higher class. I think I would attribute this to the topic of financial stress. It most cases, people who don't really have to stress over financial problems tend to be happier and more at ease. Having to constantly worry about money can really take a toll on someone. It can make them tense and put strain on their relationships. I think this is what happens when it comes to divorce in the lower classes. Couples in lower classes often have to worry about money, which can lead to added tension and stress in a relationship, in turn possibly causing the marriage to end completely. On the other hand, couples in middle and upper classes, don't necessarily have to worry so much about money, therefore their is less of a strain on their relationship, therefore causing it to potentially last longer. Another point I found interesting, was how the class system and wealth affects the birth rates of countries. In countries where most of the country is in the lower class, you often find that the birth rate is higher. I think this is because they are less educated as a result of being in a lower class. They do not have the same lessons on methods of contraception and pregnancy prevention. In wealthier countries, where much of the country resides in the upper and middle classes, that kind of education is much more common so the birth rate tends to be lower. I also think that in higher social classes, the main objective in life is to acquire more money, and less of an influence is put on having children and a family. I'm not saying this is what every mindset of someone who is in a high middle class is, but it seems like that is a focus for many people in those classes. Finally, I found it really interesting how single parent households tend to be in lower social classes, because that kind of family dynamic violates the social norm. At first, I always thought it was because their was only incoming coming in from one person. I think that does have a big part of it, put am now realizing the fact that it is somewhat frowned upon always plays a huge role in it. Single parent households are unfortunately sometimes looked down upon, and not something that most people want to have. They aren't accepted totally in society, which somewhat explains why those household dynamics are more commonly found in lower classes.
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