Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

17
Marriage: Oklahoma’s No. 1 Weapon Against Childhood Poverty How the Collapse of Marriage Hurts Children and Three Steps to Reverse the Damage A Heritage Foundation Book of Charts • 2012 Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society

Transcript of Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Page 1: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Marriage:Oklahoma’s No. 1 Weapon

AgainstChildhood Poverty

How the Collapse of Marriage Hurts Childrenand Three Steps to Reverse the Damage

A Heritage Foundation Book of Charts • 2012

Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society

Page 2: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Growth of Out-of-Wedlock Childbearing in Oklahoma, 1929–2010

PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCKThroughout most of Oklahoma’s history, out-of-wedlock childbear-ing was rare.

In 1968, shortly after the federal government began the War on Poverty, only 8.3 percent of chil-dren in Oklahoma were born outside marriage. However, over the next four decades, the number rose rapidly. By 2010, 58.2 percent of births in Oklahoma occurred outside of marriage.

Note: Data on non-marital births in Oklahoma are unavailable between 1948 and 1967. However, all states that do have data for this period show a rapid growth in non-marital childbear-ing from the mid-1960s on. The Okla-homa trend during this period undoubtedly parallels the national trend shown in the chart.

Sources: U.S. Government, U.S. Census Bureau, and National Center for Health Statistics.

heritage.orgChart 1 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

41.8%

40.8%

Oklahoma

National

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

National

Oklahoma

Page 3: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, Marriage Drops the Probability of Child Poverty by 80 Percent

The rapid rise in out-of-wedlock childbearing is a major cause of high levels of child poverty in Oklahoma.

Some 44.7 percent of single mothers with children are poor compared to 8.8 percent of mar-ried couples with children.

Single-parent families with children are more than five times more likely to be poor than fami-lies in which the parents are mar-ried.

The higher poverty rate among single-mother families is due both to the lower education levels of the mothers and the lower income due to the absence of the father.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.

heritage.orgChart 2 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE POOR

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Single-Parent, Female-Headed

Families

Married, Two-Parent Families

44.7%

8.8%

Page 4: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Over One-Third of All Families with Children in Oklahoma Are Not Married

Overall, married couples head about two-thirds of families with children in Oklahoma. Well over one-third are single-parent families.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.

heritage.orgChart 3 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

Unmarried Families

Married Families

34.3%

65.7%

Page 5: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, 70 Percent of Poor Families with Children Are Not Married

Among poor families with children in Oklahoma, seven in ten are not married. By contrast, only 30.3 percent of poor families with children are headed by married couples.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.

heritage.orgChart 4 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

Unmarried Families

Married Families30.3%

69.7%

Page 6: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, Few Unwed Births Occur to Teenagers

Out-of-wedlock births are often confused erroneously with teen births, but only 9.5 percent of out-of-wedlock births in Okla-homa occur to girls under age 18.

By contrast, some 78 percent of out-of-wedlock births occur to young adult women between the ages of 18 and 29.

Note: Figures have been rounded.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS data.

heritage.orgChart 5 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

PERCENTAGE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS BY AGE OF MOTHER

Age18–19:17.3%

Age20–24:40%

Age25–29:21%

Age30–54:12.2%

UnderAge 18:9.5%

Page 7: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Less Educated Women Are More Likely to Give Birth Outside of Marriage

Note: Specific data on out-of-wedlock births and maternal education are not available in Oklahoma. However, the pattern varies little between states. Oklahoma data will be very similar to the national data presented in this chart.

Unwed childbearing occurs most frequently among the women who will have the greatest difficulty supporting children by themselves: those with low levels of education.

In the U.S., among women who are high school dropouts, about 65.2 percent of all births occur outside marriage. Among women who have only a high school diploma, well over half of all births occur outside marriage. By con-trast, among women with at least a college degree, only 8.1 percent of births are out of wedlock.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS data.

heritage.orgChart 6 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

PERCENTAGE OF BIRTHS THAT ARE MARITAL OR OUT OF WEDLOCK

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

High School Dropout

(0–11Years)

High School Graduate

(12Years)

SomeCollege(13–15Years)

College Graduate

(16+Years)

65.2%

54.5%

42.0%

8.1%

34.8%

45.5%

580%

91.8%

Mother’s education level

Unmarried Mothers

Married Mothers

Page 8: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Both Marriage and Education Are Highly Effective in Reducing Child Poverty in Oklahoma

The poverty rate of married couples with children is dramati-cally lower than the rate for house-holds headed by single parents. This is true even when the married couple is compared to single par-ents with the same education level.

For example, in Oklahoma, the poverty rate for a single mother who has only a high school diploma is 47.9 percent, but the poverty rate for a married couple family headed by an individual who, similarly, has only a high school degree is far lower at 10.6 percent.

On average, marriage drops the poverty rate by around 80 percent among families with the same education level.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2005–2009 data.

heritage.orgChart 7 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

High School Dropout

High School Graduate

SomeCollege

College Graduate

61.0%

27.6%

47.9%

10.6%

35.9%

7.9%11.3%

2.0%

Note: Virtually none of the heads of families in the chart who are high school dropouts are minor teenagers.

PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE POOR

Poverty Rate of Families by Education and Marital Status of the Head of Household

Single Married

Page 9: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Unwed Birth Rates Vary Strongly by Race in Oklahoma

Out-of-wedlock childbearing varies considerably by race.

In 2008 (the most recent year for which racial breakdown is available), more than one in four births (42.3 percent) in Oklahoma occurred outside marriage. The rate was lowest among non-Hispanic whites at over one in three births (34.4 percent). Among Hispanics, nearly half of births were out of wedlock. Among American Indians, nearly six in ten (57.3 percent) births were out of wedlock. Among blacks, three in four births were to unmarried women (75.7 percent).

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS data.

heritage.orgChart 8 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

PERCENT OF BIRTHS THAT ARE OUT OF WEDLOCK

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

All Races White Non-

Hispanic

Hispanic AmericanIndian

BlackNon-

Hispanic

42.3%

34.4%

49%

75.7%

57.3%

8.3%

Page 10: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Growth of Unwed Childbearing by Race in Oklahoma, 1935–2008

PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCKHistorically, out-of-wedlock childbearing has been somewhat more frequent among blacks than among whites. However, prior to the onset of the federal government’s War on Poverty in the 1960s, the rates for both whites and blacks were compara-tively low.

In 1968, 5.3 percent of white children in Oklahoma were born outside marriage. By 2008, the number had risen to more than one in three (34.4 percent).

In 1970, about one-third (34.6 percent) of black children in Okla-homa were born outside marriage. By 2008, the number had risen to about seven in every ten (70.2 percent).

Sources: U.S. Government, U.S. Census Bureau, and National Center for Health Statistics.

heritage.orgChart 9 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

Oklahoma–White 34.4%

National–White 28.6%

Oklahoma–Black 75.7%

National–Black 72.3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Page 11: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Racial Composition of All Births and Out-of-Wedlock Births in Oklahoma

ALL BIRTHS OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS In Oklahoma in 2008, some 64.2 percent of all births occurred to non-Hispanic whites, 12.9 percent occurred to Hispanics, 11.5 percent occurred to American Indians, and 9.1 percent occurred to non-Hispanic blacks.

Because blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians are more likely to have children without being married, they account for disproportionately larger shares of all out-of-wedlock births. Even so, the largest number of unwed births were to white non-Hispanic women.

In Oklahoma in 2008, 52.2 percent of all non-marital births were to non-Hispanic whites, 16.2 percent were to black non-Hispanic women, 15.6 percent were to American Indians, and 15 percent were to Hispanic women.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008 NHS data

heritage.orgChart 10 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

Note: Figures have been rounded.

64.2% White Non-Hispanic

Asian/Other

Black Non-Hispanic

American Indian12.9%

11.5%

9.1%

2.3% 1%

52.2%

15%

15.6%

16.2%

Hispanic

Page 12: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Non-Married White Families Are Seven Times More Likely to Be Poor in Oklahoma

Marriage leads to lower poverty rates for whites, blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics.

For example, in 2009, the pov-erty rate for married white families in Oklahoma was 4.5 percent. But the poverty rate for non-married white families was nearly seven times higher at 29.8 percent.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.

heritage.orgChart 11 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Married Families Non-Married Families

4.5%

29.8%

Page 13: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Non-Married Black Families Are Nearly Six Times More Likely to Be Poor in Oklahoma

In 2009, the poverty rate for married black couples in Okla-homa was 7.8 percent, while the poverty rate for non-married black families was nearly six times higher at 43.4 percent.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.

heritage.orgChart 12 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Married Families Non-Married Families

7.8%

43.4%

Page 14: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Non-Married Hispanic Families Are Three Times More Likely to Be Poor in Oklahoma

In 2009, the poverty rate for Hispanic married families in Okla-homa was 18.3 percent, while the poverty rate among non-married families was more than three times higher at 55.5 percent.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.

heritage.orgChart 13 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Married Families Non-Married Families

18.3%

55.5%

Page 15: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Non-Married American Indian Families Are Four Times More Likely to Be Poor in Oklahoma

In 2009, the poverty rate for American Indian married families in Oklahoma was 9 percent, while the poverty rate among non-married families was more than four times higher at 38.5 percent.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2007–2009 data.

heritage.orgChart 14 • Marriage and Poverty in Oklahoma

PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Married Families Non-Married Families

9%

38.5%

Page 16: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

Three Steps to Reduce Child Poverty through Marriage

1) Provide information on the benefits of marriage in reducing child poverty and improving child well-being.

2) Reduce anti-marriage penalties in means-tested welfare programs.

3) Promote life-goal-planning, marriage-strengthening, and divorce-reduction programs to increase healthy marriages and reduce divorce and separation.

Marriage is a highly effective institution which greatly decreases parental and child poverty while improving long-term outcomes for children. Conversely, the absence of marriage greatly increases welfare costs and imposes added burdens on taxpayers.

Unfortunately, almost no information on these topics is available in low-income communities. This information deficit should be corrected in the following manner:

• Explain the benefits of marriage in middle and high schools with a high proportion of at-risk youth;

• Create public education campaigns in low-income communities on the benefits of marriage; and,

• Require federally funded birth control clinics to provide information on the benefits of marriage and the skills needed to develop stable families to interested low-income clients.

Page 17: Marriage Poverty - Oklahoma

The Family & Religion Initiative is one of 10 Transformational Initiatives making up The Heritage Foundation’s Leadership for America campaign. For more products and information related to this initiative or to learn more about the Leadership for America campaign, please visit heritage.org.

The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited gov-ernment, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

Our vision is to build an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish. As conservatives, we believe the values and ideas that motivated our Founding Fathers are worth conserving. As policy entrepreneurs, we believe the most effective solutions are consistent with those ideas and values.

214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE • Washington, D.C. 20002 • (202) 546-4400 • heritage.org