Families in the 1980's: Issues and concerns

Some of the current family problem areas are individually addressed and the implications for home economics educators are discussed. Problem areas include the childless family, delayed parenthood, the single-parent family, remarried couples with children, and families with 2 wage earners. Home economics teachers, extension home economists, and others must recognize diverse family structures as normal, functional, and permanent, rather than deviant, dysfunctional, and transitory. Home economics educators must prepare students for family life with the knowledge that no family structure should be considered a constant or even a predictable variable. Home economists may find that the structural-functional relationship serves as a useful theoretical guide. A brief summaryof the major issues which each of the various family structures faces, the educational implications inherent in these issues, and suggested educational tools is provided. (wz)