Bart Stykes
Intro Sociology
November 6, 2012
Race and Ethnicity One problem that seems to be increasing over time is the unmarried birth rates in America. Increasing from 18.4% of all births in 1980 to over 40% in 2010(FP-12-06), the current rate is showing that over the last 3 decades teens are becoming more apt to engage in pre-marital sex. The changing in norms and values over the past three decades has lead to a huge increase in unmarried birth rates increasing. It’s not really against cultural norms to engage in the hook-up or have sex with more than one partner in your life like it used to be. Over half of all minority births were to unmarried women, with an alarming 74% of births among black women, 54% to Hispanics(FP-12-06). 74% of blacks while nearly 50% of them were single, also common amongst Hispanics almost 20%(FP-12-06). On the other hand Whites are at a low 30% total of all births being premarital (FP-12-06). Among teens experiencing a nonmarital birth, 45% of the babies were born to single mothers versus 44% to cohabiting mothers(FP-12-06). According to statistics, the increase of age is related to increased rate of cohabiting unmarried births, with a decrease in single mothers. Based on statistics mothers who are less educated are more likely to have premarital birth than those who are highly educated. Minorities leading the way with the most premarital babies, over half being single mothers, this plays a big role in a majority being drop and having to work to support the baby. Causing a developing an endless cycle amongst blacks and other minorities. With the mother having little education, education thus becomes second to the child, and only having one parent present can develop some withdrawal from love. Thus at a young age the child then goes searching for this love and can come at the cost of a premarital baby. One out of every five children was born into poverty in 2010(FP-12-17), with higher levels amongst minorities.
Cited: 1)Payne, K.k, Manning, W.D., &Brown, S.L. (2012). Unmarried Births to Cohabiting and Single Mothers, 2005-2010 (FP-12-06). National Center for Family & Marriage research. https://elearning.bgsu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_235272_1%26url%3d 2)Payne, Krista K. (2012) Timing of First Marital Birth. (FP-12-11). National Center for Family & Marriage Research. 3)William, S. (2012). Child Poverty in the United States, 2010 (FP-12-17). National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://elearning.bgsu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_235272_1%26url%3d https://elearning.bgsu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_235272_1%26url%3d