ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews trends and changes in particular dimensions of family structure and process as they are described by sociodemographic data. Family structure in urban and rural areas is compared and contrasted to determine the degree to which these trends and changes have permeated communities throughout US society. The family is part of the institutional structure through which a society replaces its population. It is the unit in which reproduction is authorized and expected, and consequently, changes in the marriage rate and the age at first marriage affect a society's level of fertility. Family composition has also been shown to affect the labor force participation of married women. Women's labor force participation is an Important issue in and of itself, but it is also important because of its impact on aspects of family structure and function. Social scientists have been deeply involved in specifying the relationship between women's work activity and fertility.
