ABSTRACT
Major changes are revolutionizing the modern family. One aspect of the family and economic changes and the relationships between them relates to changes across the generations. While increases in income and education have been associated with family changes, as have demographic changes at the macro level, changes in ethnic, racial, and religious group identification have also been related to family structure and family norms. The normative and behavioral variation in family patterns reflects three processes. First there is an overlap between socioeconomic status and ethnic, racial, and religious group membership. Second, the variation among ethnic, racial, and religious groups may be indicative of differential values and preferences. Third, differences in family patterns may be related to ethnic community networks and the institutional transmission of family values. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
