Change.

Family life changed considerably in this decade. In 1960 married couples with children comprised 44.2 percent of American households; by 1980 this had dropped to 30.9 percent. The number of men living alone rose from 4.3 to 8.6 percent, and women living alone from 8.7 to 14 percent. The percentage of the population who never married also increased from 17.3 to 22.5. The median age at first marriage increased, as did the divorce rate, the number of births to unmarried mothers, and the number of adults in unmarried-couple households.

Explanations.

Although the explanations for the increase in divorce vary, many experts believe that because the courts accepted mental cruelty as grounds for divorce and tended to award custody of children to their mothers, divorce and remarriage became more acceptable to and for women. Greater employment opportunities and economic independence for women also contributed to the increased divorce rate. Also, no-fault divorce laws passed...