Changing Courses: The Pendulum of Family Transitions in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This paper focuses on changing and emergent patterns of family-related transitions to adulthood over the past century. Particular attention will be paid to contextualizing contemporary transitions to adulthood (i.e., leaving and returning to parental homes as “boomerang kids” and the timing of marriage and parenthood) using historical data, particularly from the 1950s until the tum of the 21st century. Although emphasis is on Canadian patterns, international comparisons are made with the U.S., Britain, Italy and Sweden. Data are presented from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including Statistics Canada, the U.S. Bureau of the Census, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Key findings question the commonly-held assertion that contemporary transitions are fraught with chaos and uncertainty. Instead, the family life course can be conceptualized as elastic and flexible in response to unique and changing ecological environments. In light of the significant socio-demographic, economic and political transformations facing families, implications relevant to the fluctuating life course patterns of young men, young women, and their midlife, parents will be highlighted.

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