In John Iceland’s latest book, “A Portrait of America,” he uses a demographer’s brush to paint a picture of how the United States has changed over the past 60 years and what the changes mean to its citizens. He examines shifts in population, family living arrangements, economic trends, and racial and gender inequality to give the reader a historical perspective. Published last fall by University of California Press, ”A Portrait of America” cites data from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, current population surveys, and reports on health, poverty, and other trends.
The U.S. population has grown from 179 million to 309 million over the past 50 years. Immigrants entering the United States over that time period increased from 270,000 annually to 1 million, while at the same time the percentage of European immigrants declined from 75 to 12 percent. Despite this increase in diversity, Dr. Iceland notes that substantial inequality within American communities remains.
An example of the country’s inequality is showcased in its current college completion rates. Data shows that more racial/ethnic groups are graduating college today than ever before. However, there are still significant disparities, Dr. Iceland says. In 2012, 50 percent of Asian Americans over 25 years old had completed college, while 33 percent of non-Hispanic white, 20 percent of black, and 15 percent of Hispanic U.S. citizens had college degrees.
“Education gaps are just one example in a broad collection of topics my book covers. I’ve attempted to address many of the core issues demographers study today,” he said. “Whether the reader is a student or someone with a general interest, the book is a good resource and a helpful introduction to what these important issues are and how they affect us.”
Dr. Iceland accompanies the data with real-life stories from ethnographic research and media stories to put the broad collection of topics into perspective. In chapter 2 on the “American Family,” he features an excerpt from The New York Times about a man’s decision to be a stay-at-home father—an anecdote describing changing social norms at home. Although still uncommon, stay-at-home dads are increasing in number. The number of stay-at-home moms has dropped by nearly half since 1969.
“Some people like tables and figures, and others like the stories that bring the tables and figures to life. I want readers to walk away with an appreciation of social change in America,” Dr. Iceland said. “The goal is for everyone to see how all of these trends are interconnected."
Dr. Iceland writes that social and economic phenomena are often discussed in isolation. However, they are intrinsically tied together, and there are many examples of how they affect each other. The book connects various social trends by showcasing the ripple effects they can cause. Changes in the family structure, like stay-at-home fathering, are connected to changes in the economy. Education affects the economy, which in turn influences disparities in health.
One example connects economic growth to family structure. The citizens in an affluent country or culture often have varied living situations. Many individuals live alone, and they often marry later and are typically independent for longer periods of time. In contrast, in less affluent societies, living without family or community support is often not a possibility. As economies grow, it awards new options for citizens and directly affects family dynamics.
As another example of the ripple effect, the continued deindustrialization of the United States negatively affects job prospects, specifically for less-educated men. However, men’s struggles to find work have opened the door for women to narrow the gender inequality gap. Dr. Iceland writes that by building an understanding of current trends like this, researchers and policymakers can better predict future changes.
One of the most critical issues facing the United States, according to Dr. Iceland, is income inequality and increasing debt. Large socioeconomic differences are fueling associated problems in areas like healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. He said the Great Recession (2007-2009) broadened income inequality, hitting the middle class the hardest because advances in technology and the increased globalization of manufacturing have increased the demand for more skilled workers. Less skilled workers have fallen out of demand causing economic hardship, while skilled workers see higher wages.
Shifts in the economy have resulted in limited opportunity for low-income Americans and their families. Dr. Iceland said when economic changes like this occur “people who grow up in good economic circumstances have a high probability of going to college and living in good economic standing. If they grow up in less fortunate circumstances, they are more likely to have a nontraditional family, less stable family relations, and heavy economic stress.”
Dr. Iceland suggests leveling access to public education to help children begin life with equal opportunities. Providing services like universal preschool is vital to give all children early exposure to schooling and support to working parents, he says. ”A Portrait of America” does not delve much into specific policy matters. Instead it reveals a population constantly in flux and in need of policy reform that evolves to fit changing times. General awareness of trends can build a better appreciation of the needs of the American people, and Dr. Iceland hopes his book will help build that understanding.
Dr. Iceland is the Head of the Department of Sociology and Criminology and an affiliate of the Population Research Institute