How serious are the issues that How serious are the issues that usually precipitate a divorce?usually precipitate a divorce?

Notice how this question was finessed in Notice how this question was finessed in the movie. the movie.

Whitehead: “Some people say as few as Whitehead: “Some people say as few as 10-15% of divorces involve marriages that 10-15% of divorces involve marriages that are really irretrievably broken.”are really irretrievably broken.”

Narrator: “So even by the most generous Narrator: “So even by the most generous measure, many of these divorces are not measure, many of these divorces are not justified.”justified.”

Major criticisms of Wallerstein, Major criticisms of Wallerstein, Second ChancesSecond Chances

Cherlin and Furstenberg, Cherlin and Furstenberg, Divided FamiliesDivided FamiliesLack of representative samplingLack of representative samplingLack of control group of children not Lack of control group of children not

experiencing divorceexperiencing divorce

Basis for their book: National Survey of Basis for their book: National Survey of Children, in which a representative sample of Children, in which a representative sample of parents and children were interviewed at 5-parents and children were interviewed at 5-year intervalsyear intervals

““Fading fathers”Fading fathers”

Five years after divorce, nearly half of kids Five years after divorce, nearly half of kids do not have contact with fathers even do not have contact with fathers even once a year.once a year.

Why?Why?Child support issues (social class)Child support issues (social class)Parenting skills of fathersParenting skills of fathersVery part-time parentingVery part-time parenting

Economic IssuesEconomic Issues

Female-headed families six times more Female-headed families six times more likely to be poor.likely to be poor.

Child support system: improving but still Child support system: improving but still not generous… e.g. British system more not generous… e.g. British system more sensitive to children’s needs and less sensitive to children’s needs and less sensitive to noncustodial parent’s needssensitive to noncustodial parent’s needs

Child well-beingChild well-being

NSC data: “In the last four years has your NSC data: “In the last four years has your child had any behavior or discipline child had any behavior or discipline problems at school resulting in your problems at school resulting in your receiving a note or being asked to come to receiving a note or being asked to come to school?”school?”34% (children of divorce) vs 20%34% (children of divorce) vs 20%

Children of divorce doing no worse than Children of divorce doing no worse than children in intact, high conflict homeschildren in intact, high conflict homes

Public policy recommendationsPublic policy recommendations

Help custodial parent function better: Help custodial parent function better: improve child support and collectionsimprove child support and collections

Reduce conflict between parents: Reduce conflict between parents: implement “primary caretaker standard” for implement “primary caretaker standard” for custodycustody

What about joint custody?What about joint custody?

Wallerstein: “The Unexpected Wallerstein: “The Unexpected Legacy” Legacy”

How is Wallerstein’s latest work improved How is Wallerstein’s latest work improved by the criticisms from Cherlin and by the criticisms from Cherlin and FurstenburgFurstenburgComparison group: 43 people of same age, Comparison group: 43 people of same age,

raised in same neighborhoodsraised in same neighborhoodsBook presented as life stories of five children (now Book presented as life stories of five children (now

adults) from her original sample, contrasted with adults) from her original sample, contrasted with similar comparison person from new samplesimilar comparison person from new sample

Not against all divorce; not saying universally Not against all divorce; not saying universally harmful to kidsharmful to kids

Groups: Wallerstein, 3-6, 12-13Groups: Wallerstein, 3-6, 12-13

After 25 yearsAfter 25 years

Able to track down 80% of “children” in the Able to track down 80% of “children” in the original studyoriginal study

Karen and GaryKaren and GaryGary’s parents unhappy but no divorce… Gary’s parents unhappy but no divorce…

good parents in spite of their unhappinessgood parents in spite of their unhappinessCompared with Gary, Karen missed out on Compared with Gary, Karen missed out on

play. “When visiting and custody plans are play. “When visiting and custody plans are made by parents, children’s friendship and made by parents, children’s friendship and play activities rarely considered. play activities rarely considered.

Key quotes, bottom of p. 34, p., 75Key quotes, bottom of p. 34, p., 75

Can we trust Wallerstein? Can we trust Wallerstein?

Qualitative research: what is the Qualitative research: what is the evidence? evidence?

No way to really know how representative No way to really know how representative her original sample might beher original sample might beE.g: “Two out of three of the adults in our long E.g: “Two out of three of the adults in our long

term study of divorce have decided not to term study of divorce have decided not to have children…. Of course, these people are have children…. Of course, these people are still relatively young and may change their still relatively young and may change their minds…” minds…”

Groups: discussion questionsGroups: discussion questions

Growing Up LonelyGrowing Up Lonely

Economic stresses for single parent Economic stresses for single parent familiesfamilies

Role overloadRole overloadQuote, p. 166Quote, p. 166Paula: “I know that Mom turned herself Paula: “I know that Mom turned herself

inside out to support us and I’ll always be inside out to support us and I’ll always be grateful to her, but I remember her as grateful to her, but I remember her as absent.” absent.”

Court-Ordered Visiting, the Child’s Court-Ordered Visiting, the Child’s ViewView

““The visiting schedule was set up on the The visiting schedule was set up on the basis of a compromise meeting the basis of a compromise meeting the demands of both parents.” demands of both parents.”

Visits with dad: quote, p. 177Visits with dad: quote, p. 177 ““Obviously this father didn’t have a clue of Obviously this father didn’t have a clue of

what to do with young girls, and no one what to do with young girls, and no one helped him.” helped him.”

W: “I have rarely met a child who felt W: “I have rarely met a child who felt protected by this (legal) system.” protected by this (legal) system.”