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Show Alore fAoab Families Headed By Vomen Than Ever Before In Grand County, as in most other parts of the country, more families are headed by women than ever before, a special release to The Times-Independent Times-Independent stated this week. In the absence of husbands, tor one reason or another, they have taken over the responsibility respon-sibility of earning a living, maintaining a home and bringing up their children by themselves. In 1970. when the last census w as taken, it was found that 100 local families, am- ounting to 6.3 per cent of the total, were headed by women. Since then there has been a general increase throughout the country, according to a sampling survey made by the Department of Commerce. In Grand County, as a result, it is estimated that the proportion is now approximately approximat-ely 7.2 per cent. Elsewhere in the United States, by way of comparison, the average is 12.4 per cent. Among the white population it is 9.9 Per cent, among the black, 34.0 per cent. There are now over 6.6 million families headed by women, 1 million more than in 1970. Why the sudden increase? The Institute of Life Insurance has an explanation for it. It states that in 1968 for example, being widowed (46 were) was the principal reason for women moving into the leadership role. The second was divorce or separation(44 per cent.) Today, divorce or separation has jumped into the lead (50) well ahead of widowhood widow-hood (37). The number of single women heading families has also increased, going from 10 to 13 per cent. More and more, as a result, children are being brought up by their mothers alone. The Census Bureau reports that 14 per cent of all children in the United States under the age of 18. or 1 out of every 7, are now being raised by their mothers. In Grand County, according to the latest Government figures. 73 of the families with female heads have children under 18 and 33 of those have children under age 6. The changes in household composition and family structure struc-ture are attributed to such factors as changing attitudes toward marriage and toward separation and divorce. Better job opportunities for women has also been a factor. |