A dramatic shift in the perceived ideal family size in the United States occurred during which decade?

• A. 1950s
• B. 1960s
• C. 1970s
• D. 1980s

Answer: (C)

A shift in how people think about family size is driven by changes in social norms and opportunities. After the baby boom, many families were oriented toward having more children. But in the 1970s, a wide range of factors—greater access to contraception, the rise of women’s participation in education and the workforce, higher divorce rates, and the legalization of abortion—helped couples plan and limit how many children they have. These changes nudged the typical or preferred family size downward, moving toward about two children. This decade marks the moment when the public’s perceived ideal shifted from larger families to smaller ones, consistent with broader fertility trends in modernizing societies.