Part 1 Assignment 2

1) Describe 1 or 2 highlights that struck you from the report. Do not cut and paste from the report, use your own words.
The one highlight that struck me the most was the number of two-parent families. The data says that in 1997 the average number was 24.8 million, unlike today where that number has drastically decreased to 23.1 million in 2010. That means only one out of five households have a mother and father and children. This just amazed me because I often wonder why, why today, are people seperating, not getting married, or not having children? What are the reasons for couples getting divorced?

2) Were you surprised by the data/findings on the chart or are they in line with what you would have expected?
I guess I feel that they were in line with what I was expecting. However, they aren't what I wanted them to be. I want to know why people opt to live alone, why so many don't want to have children, and why married couples feel that divorce is the way out. I know that there are many reasons that call for a divorce, but do they all? This chart just sparked more questions for me.

3) What do you notice on the chart?
I noticed that back in 1995 more people stayed together, more people had children, and less people were likely to remain single. Unlike in 2010 where more people split up, more people didn't want to have children, and more people were likely to remain living single.

3a.) What types of families are more typical (higher percentage) compared to 1995.
the highest percentage that I found in 2010 was married couples without children.

3b.) What types of families are becoming less the norm (percentage decreases from 1995 to 2010.
married couples with children, single fathers, single mothers. Basically households with children.

4) What type of family do you expect to be living in, in 5 years? In 10 years? When you are 70 years old?
In the next five years I hope to be married, with the possibility of kids on the way. In ten years I hope to be living in a married with children family, and in 70 years I hope to be married and watching my grandchildren grow.