jiajia

Alternative lifestyles are new ways of life that are different kinds from the traditional way. In the past, most people had chosen to get married. Whereas now some people are not planning to get married, but live the single life with or not children. This way of life has gradually formed the mainstream. Alternative lifestyles now include many different new ways of living, including: single-parent families, staying single and communal living. There is social situation have become a common phenomenon and affected the economy of family. Single-parent family means a family with at least one child and the single parent living together. According to research of the U.S. Census Bureau, there has been a significant risen in the rate of single-parent family in the United Stated, from 13% to 31% from 1970 to 1998. Compared with two-parent families, the majority of single parents live in poverty. For example, single parent should alone bear children’s tuition. In addition, the similar type of alternative life is staying single. In 1998, approximately 25% of all American families were single person family. An adult who chooses to living alone is called staying single. In particular, most single people suggest that they enjoy the life of a single person. As an effect on society, this way of life may reduce the birth rate. Turning to the communal living, this way of life promote the communication between people and effects on housing project. Communal living means that a group of people live together who may not know each other but have similar life pursuits or common interests. The concept of communal living is available in some city housing project. In his study of a project in Sacramento, California, Harrison at 1990 designed a community in which the residents had their own private space. However they shared the laundry room and garden. In sum, three major lifestyles make up the alternative lifestyle: