The Changing American Family, The Care-Career Conflict and Love That Has Withstood the Test of Time
The Shriver Report family hopes you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that this weekend brings even more joy (plus lots and lots of leftovers). If your families are anything like ours, then you know holidays can be a delicate exchange of love and personality, all wrapped up into one big food coma.
Here’s a quick escape from that pesky uncle who’s always trying to talk politics, in the form of interesting stories from across the web.
Who was sitting around the turkey at your table? Family structure in the United States has changed dramatically in recent decades. Here’s an up-close look at some of the most startling changes and how different families are coping with them.
Introducing the first Semper Fidelis (“always loyal”) females of the Marine Corps. Katie Gorz, Julia Carroll and Christina Fuentes Montenegro recently became the first entry-level enlisted women to complete infantry training as a part of the Marine Corps. “OOH-RAH” indeed!
Full Story: NPR, “Women Pass Marine Training, Clear First Hurdle To Combat Role”
Caregiving AND career seems impossible—especially for women.Women are more likely to care of aging parents and significantly less likely to be in the labor force if they are providing care. Among men, caregiving had no relationship to employment status.
Full Story: The New York Times, “Work, Women and Caregiving”
Has the road to gender equality hit a roadblock? The labor force hit 46 percent female in 1994 and hasn’t changed much since, and though women earn the majority of degrees, their specializations still tend to pay less.
In a world where the headlines seem dominated by less than hopeful news, a reminder that love remains. A couple in Connecticut celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary this week. Real advice for younger couples? Of course they have some! “[Marriage] isn’t a lovey-dovey thing. … You learn to accept one another’s ways of life.”