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Patriarchy, Power, and Pay: The Transformation of American Families, 1800–2015

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  • Steven Ruggles

Abstract

This article proposes explanations for the transformation of American families over the past two centuries. I describe the impact on families of the rise of male wage labor beginning in the nineteenth century and the rise of female wage labor in the twentieth century. I then examine the effects of decline in wage labor opportunities for young men and women during the past four decades. I present new estimates of a precipitous decline in the relative income of young men and assess its implications for the decline for marriage. Finally, I discuss explanations for the deterioration of economic opportunity and speculate on the impact of technological change on the future of work and families. Copyright Population Association of America 2015

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  • Steven Ruggles, 2015. "Patriarchy, Power, and Pay: The Transformation of American Families, 1800–2015," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(6), pages 1797-1823, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:demogr:v:52:y:2015:i:6:p:1797-1823
    DOI: 10.1007/s13524-015-0440-z
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    17. Shelly Lundberg & Robert A. Pollak & Jenna Stearns, 2016. "Family Inequality: Diverging Patterns in Marriage, Cohabitation, and Childbearing," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 30(2), pages 79-102, Spring.
    18. Donard Games & Dessy Kurnia Sari, 2023. "Role of Female Successors in Family Business Innovation: Some Insights From the Largest Matrilineal Muslim Society," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, November.
    19. Elizabeth M. Lawrence & Richard G. Rogers & Anna Zajacova & Tim Wadsworth, 2019. "Marital Happiness, Marital Status, Health, and Longevity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 1539-1561, June.
    20. Matt A. Nelson, 2020. "The decline of patrilineal kin propinquity in the United States, 1790–1940," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(18), pages 501-532.
    21. Thomas Anderson & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2015. "Low Fertility, Socioeconomic Development, and Gender Equity," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 41(3), pages 381-407, September.
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    23. Steven Ruggles, 2022. "Race, class, and marriage: Components of race differences in men’s first marriage rates, United States, 1960–2019," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 46(39), pages 1163-1186.

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