As Americans settled into neighborhoods after World War II, the nuclear family, consisting of a father, mother, and pre-adult kids, developed into the ideal model. The Pew Research Center finds that multigenerational homes declined, determining that cultural norms shifted after World War II. In 1940 multigenerational homes accounted for 25 percent of households. In 1980, households identified as multigenerational was at 12 percent. Gone was the multi-generational household. Gone were all family members working together to provide the highest standard of living. Gone was the socially accepted notion of children returning to the family, if they ever leave, to ensure the family continues to operate at its optimal capacity.
Self-determination and autonomy spread throughout American society and became the established standards for the function of individuals and families. One hypothesis on family structure that Vern L. Bengston agrees with in his article “Beyond the Nuclear Family: The Increasing Importance of Multigenerational Bonds,” defines multigenerational families as a model structure of social-institutional before World War II, and today’s nuclear families are categorized as emotional-supportive. Bengston states that ideas of individualism, secularism, emancipation of women, and urbanization contributed to the alteration of the family as a social institution where law and custom are learned in a multigenerational environment. The ideas promoted the concept of the nuclear family with love and companionship the focal point. A community took up the role of educating on customs and laws while also helping the nuclear family when additional assistance was necessary.
Today, the social custom is for adult children to leave home and build an independent life and family. The nuclear family and importance of individualism as Bengston discerns leads to most parents believing that once the child is an adult, it is a right of passage to become an independent contributing member of society. The holidays and other random visitations are the primary times kids and their families anticipate visits to the childhood home, but briefly.
However, those rare visitations are now becoming much longer, suspended stays. Like a boomerang, the kids leave, but return due to unemployment and the rising cost-of-living. Some see this boomerang affect as an imposition, and in some instances, a test of the concept of the nuclear family (Bengston). But there is another perspective, some kids return home to help their parents during a very cash-strapped time in their lives, to provide elder assistance, and help parents experiencing the empty nest syndrome. The Pew Research Center acknowledges the growth of multigenerational households is caused by high unemployment, surges in home foreclosures, and the changes of demographics with the rise in immigration and the increase of the median age of those first married.
The ever-growing ethnic influences from Asian and Hispanic families that culturally encompass parents, children, young adults, and grandparents all living in one household, is an upsurge that will likely increase prevalence of boomerang kids, as those outside these cultures see the additional help extended family offers. The article “U.S. sees more multigenerational households,” advises that along with longer lifespans and additional outpatient and home health care contributing to the increase in multigenerational households, “So, too, has a recent wave of immigration of Hispanics and Asians, who are more likely to live with extended family.”
Parents may discover some benefits in having the kids return home. The article “Adult Children Moving Back Home: Don’t Let Boomerang Kids Derail Your Goals” explains, “Having your children return to the safety net of your home can be wonderful time of family closeness. Setting the tone, laying out ground rules, and making smart-money financial decisions can help create a positive, supportive environment that is in the best interests of you and your returning family members.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 15 million boomerang kids currently live with parents. The possibilities of more helping hands may be the only change of thinking that is necessary to make the household work. Bengston reminds that the prevalence of divorce over the past 40 years influenced a breakdown of the nuclear family, referencing that multigenerational households are not being sought just for a model for social-institution but as an, “extension of family bonds, of affection and affirmation, of help and support, across several generations, whether these be biological ties or the creation of kin like relationships.” The multigenerational family of today encompasses a link between generations that were separated with the prevalence of the nuclear family, assistance financially and emotionally for adults, older adults, and young adults, and an opportunity for the family to become acquainted again (“More Americans now live in multigenerational households.”) When all members know their roles and contribute, the family is stronger and adept to weather any recessionary downturn.
Sources:
“13%--I’ll be Home for Christmas… and a Few More Days after That” Pew Research Center (March 13, 2011) http://pewresearch.org/databank/dailynumber/?NumberID=912
“Adult Children Moving Back Home: Don’t Let ‘Boomerang Kids’ Derail Your Goals” New York Life (December 2, 2010) http://www.newyorklife.com/nyl/v/index.jsp?contentId=13762&vgnextoid=d0bd47bb939d2210a2b3019d221024301cacRCRD
Bengston, Vern L. “Beyond the Nuclear Family: The Increasing Importance of Multigenerational Bonds”, Journal of Marriage and Family, 63 (February 2001) http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/wilsonv/Articles/BeyondNuclaer.pdf
“Hispanic Population of the United States” U.S. Census Bureau (2006) http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hispanic/hispanic_pop_presentation.html
“More Americans now live in multigenerational homes.” USA Today (March 18, 2010).
“U.S. sees more multigenerational households” msnbc.com (March 18, 2010) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35921787/ns/us_news-life/
Wang, Wendy and Rich Morin. “Home for the Holidays… and Every Other Day” Pew Research Center (November 24, 2009) http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1423/home-for-the-holidays-boomeranged-parents
Comments
Boomerang
Although there has been an increasing trend of young adults moving back home, it can be emotionally, financially, and psychological supportive for both parties. But to achieve this goal of a loving household, I believe that firm rules have to be established and that each person has to have a certain level of respect for the others. Some young children expect to return home and have all of the same freedoms that they had when they lived on their own and to have all of their financial needs taken care of. From the examples that I have seen in my own personal life, many children are 1) not mature enough to leave home and 2) are too physically (not financially) independent to return. As long as both parties are in mutual agreement as to what is to occur once the person moves back home, I think the relationship can be beneficial.
The economy affecting families
the economy is something that had impact the majority of families now because after the kids become adults, they go out trying to find jobs in order to support their families. unfortunately, some of them come back home because of the unemployment and lack of opportunities. For some families, when their kids are working, it brings them a lot of benefits. However, it is not the same case for some other families.