I have to ask 3 people that are around my age (I'm 22, so anyone from 17 to 27) and 3 people a generation ahead of me (so anyone about 20 years or more older than me) the following:

1. What are your dating patterns?

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)?

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)?

4. What is your career (or career expectations)?

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men (if you are a man) or young women (if you are a woman) today with regard to combining family and work.

This is for a sociology paper. If you fit into one of those age categories and would be willing to help me, you can either post here or PM me your answers if you'd rather. I'd really appreciate it! :) Thanks!!

i'm 17

1. What are your dating patterns?

Umm, i really don't commit... i just date, I haven't had a serious relationship in a year or so, but i'm really not looking for one

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)?

Not to get married until i'm 30 and have made a decent life for myself. I want the marriage to be for love, not for the sake of saying that i'm married.

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)?

Not to be ANYTHING like my parents. I have no intentions of having children, but if, God forbid I do, hopefully just be patient and calm with them...and try to think how I felt when i was their age.

4. What is your career (or career expectations)?

Medical field... work in a free clinque after med school to hopefully have loans forgiven.

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men (if you are a man) or young women (if you are a woman) today with regard to combining family and work.

I suppose just fighting sterotypes. The classic working mother should be perfect...but their not. I don't think the whole Men VS Women situation is so prominent, i mean, i'm not a feminist and havne't doner research on the topic.

This is for a sociology paper. If you fit into one of those age categories and would be willing to help me, you can either post here or PM me your answers if you'd rather. I'd really appreciate it! :) Thanks!! [/B][/QUOTE]

1. What are your dating patterns?

What exactly do you mean, how often I date? I go out once in a while, maybe once or twice a month.

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)?

When I get married, my husband better learn to fend for himself 'cause I ain't cleaning up after him! :lol: I want us to love and respect each other.

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)?

I was brought up in a strict Catholic household and I plan to bring up my kids the same way. I'll also teach my kids compassion and tolerance for other people.

4. What is your career (or career expectations)?

If possible, I want to be a stay-at-home mom. If that isn't possible, I want to be a child psychologist or something.

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men (if you are a man) or young women (if you are a woman) today with regard to combining family and work.

Trying to find time for both a professional and a personal life.

17 years old
1. What are your dating patterns? I don't date. All the guys in my school probably think I'm a weird psycho chick or something. I don't think any of the guys are looking for what I'm looking for. Meaning most guys want a chick who looks like a Barbie doll and act like a love slave. You just don't know what it is like in this town. lol I met one guy that I thought was my kindred spirit. Sadly, I think he thinks I'm a psychopath. *sigh*

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)? I want a happy marriage. I don't care if I live in a palace made of gold. I don't care if my husband can buy enough diamonds to shove down my throat. A palace and diamonds can fade. I want my husband to love me for being me. Yeah, I don't look like a Barbie doll, so he shouldn't expect me to act like one. I want a trusting marriage. I don't want to think he chases everything in a skirt. I would just like to find my kindred spirit, but I would have to be very sure I wanted marriage before I got married. I don't want to think of marriage as a chore, or to wake up in the morning and think about who I married. I don't even know him. He's like a total stranger to me. I want a friendship with him first, so I will never have thoughts about the part I just mentioned about strangers.

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)? Ah, it will probably be payback for me. Lucky me, I will probably wind up with a kid like me and do all the stuff that I tortured my parents with when I was growing up. j/k I want to trust my kid too. I want him or her to express their freedom, and allow to roam free. I don't want them to think I clipped a leash on them when I gave birth to them and then kept them on a leash during the first 17 or 18 years. I want my children to be able to come to me when they have problems and can talk to me about them. I know I've had crap in my life, and I would rather die than talk my problems over with my parents. I don't want my kids to feel that way about me.

4. What is your career (or career expectations)? I want to be a writer. It's a career I think I chose when I was a little girl. I always loved to write cute and funny stories. As I grew up, the stories kind of changed into weird stories, but hey. :) That way I can be home with my children and still be able to spend time with them when I'm taking a break.

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men (if you are a man) or young women (if you are a woman) today with regard to combining family and work. Time. You just don't have time enough to do all the stuff that you want to do in a day. I could make out a list of all the things I have to do during the day, and it always cuts out a fraction of time with either work or family. When you work, all you want to do when you come home is go to bed. That nearly cuts all family time out.

I'm 19, I'll be 20 this Summer, so I'll answer your questions - I like taking part in surveys :)

1. What are your dating patterns?

Erm, much as it pains me to admit this - I don't date. I can't get a date at all. I don't get out much and when I do I just go out with my 2 best friends. My work doesn't really give me any opportunity to meet people either cos I'm stuck behind a desk all day.

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)?

I have no plans to get married whatsoever.

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)?

I'm never having children. I don't like children and I don't want anything to do with them. I know that sounds harsh but I'm just being honest.

4. What is your career (or career expectations)?

I currently work in Accounting. I don't particularly enjoy it but I get pretty good money and the money is all that really matters to me. One day I'd like to work in a video store - that's, like, a dream of mine. I know that sounds wierd when it's money I want and working in a video store doesn't pay good money. What would be ideal was if I could own and manage my own video/DVD store. That'd be cool!

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young women today with regard to combining family and work.

Men are the only problem facing women today with regard to family/work commitments. I bet you that if a woman quits her job after having a baby, 9 times out of 10 it'll be because her husband/boyfriend forced her to quit. Men are too stubborn and proud to give up their own jobs to stay home and look after the kids so they force their wives to give up instead.

Well of course I'll help out, especially for a sociology paper! ;) Although it seems like you already have enough people for this age bracket, but hey, larger sample sizes never hurt!

I am 23.

1. What are your dating patterns?

I don't really have a dating pattern, really. I've been going out with the same guy since I was 18, so I don't "date around".

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)?

This is kind of a vague question...I'm not sure what exactly you are looking for here.... I guess my marriage expectations are that I think I will have a good marriage. I will probably marry the guy I'm dating now, and we are both mature, respect each other, and realize that marriage involves honesty, sacrifice, and comprimise, so I am optimistic about it.

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)?

I think parenting will probably very rewarding however I am not sure at this point in my life if I will have kids or not. I do think, however, that if I did, that I would be a good parent.

4. What is your career (or career expectations)?

Veterinarian. Probably small animal but maybe zoo animal.

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men (if you are a man) or young women (if you are a woman) today with regard to combining family and work.

Oh jeez do you really want to get me started on this? I could talk your ear off. Let's start with the glass ceiling. Let's move onto the fact that when a woman gets married she generally adds on about 9 hours a week extra unpaid work inside the home, whereas married men add none. (There is an actual sociological term for this but dang it I can't remember it! And 9 hours is the average, I'm sure it's much more for alot of women, especially those with several little kids.) Let's continue on to the fact that women are often passed over for promotions because they have to take off work more often to care for sick children. And then there's maternity leave.

I could go on more but I'll stop there. Remember I majored in sociology, so if you need any help at all I'd be more than willing to lend a hand. Just PM me!

Good luck with the paper! :cheers:

I'm almost twenty - I don't know if you need anymore subjects, but I'll answer anyway. :)

1. What are your dating patterns?

Well, very much off and on. I don't go out with strangers, only people I've known for awhile. I haven't had a steady boyfriend in... um... nevermind. But I'm always up for having a few laughs.

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)?

I hope to marry before I'm thirty five, but other than that, I don't really have too much planned out. I know I want to be married.

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)?

I am not going to have children. I'm not good with kids and I'm too impatient to be a mother. I might change my mind though.

4. What is your career (or career expectations)?

I hope to go to graduate school after college, then enter into some aspect of the film industry. I haven't decided yet, but I'm thinking cinematography or film restoration.

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men (if you are a man) or young women (if you are a woman) today with regard to combining family and work.

Making time for everyone. Definately. If you are lucky enough to find a good job where you can make enough to support yourself and help support your family, you still need to find time to be with your spouse and raise your children.



K, well I hope that helps! Good luck on your paper! :wave:

Thanks so much guys! This helps me out a lot!! And thanks for the offer Bootsy. :)

Anyone out there in the other age bracket?

Just bumping this up for Dawsongirl...hopefully it'll catch someone's eye who's in the older bracket...

Well I'm 15 so I don't fit the age bracket but I'll do it anyway just for fun:

1. What are your dating patterns?
I want to stay faithful to one woman all my life.I know it sounds cheesy and old fashioned but still....

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)?
I want to marry between the ages of 18 and 23 and TRY to marry someone close to my age who is (hopefully) a virgin.

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)?
I currently plan to have 5 or 6 kids of course it's all my wife's decision.

4. What is your career (or career expectations)?
After high school I'm going to take a year or 2 off and will then try out for a few acting jobs if that doesn't work out then I'll got to College to become a teacher.

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men today with regard to combining family and work?
Staying faithful to 1 woman.Everybody wants to be a "Player" or "Playah" or "Playa" or well you get my drift!

I'm 20.

1. What are your dating patterns?
Single. Not single. Single. Not single. Single. Not single.

2. What are your marriage expectations?
I want to marry an attractive guy in his late 20s - early 30s, who has a great job, is intelligent, and will worship the ground I walk on... hand feeding me grapes as I lay in the sun on a bed of feather-down pillows.

3. What are your expectations about parenthood ?
Not good. Have a kid, buy them food and clothes, house them, have them treat you like s*** when they're a teen, then have them put me in a retirement home when I'm old and incompetant. Doesn't sound appealing to me.

4. What is your career ?
Actress/Comedy writer.

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men or young women today with regard to combining family and work.
I don't see a challenge or problem with it. It sounds like a great combination. Children are cheap labor!!

Im waiting for my cousin who i havent seen for 8 years to come and im excited and bored so i'll take it

1. What are your dating patterns? i dont date

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)? um...normal

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)? i want like 2'3 kids and I WANNA GIRL! i'll see but im gonna have kids no matter whatttttttttt

4. What is your career (or career expectations)? im gonna be a beautician

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men (if you are a man) or young women (if you are a woman) today with regard to combining family and work. huh

Originally posted by dawsongirl

1. What are your dating patterns?

2. What are your marriage expectations (or marriages like)?

3. What are your expectations about parenthood (or parenthood values)?

4. What is your career (or career expectations)?

5. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing young men (if you are a man) or young women (if you are a woman) today with regard to combining family and work.


hmm, this is an old thread so i guess you dont need stats anymore- bu im bored so here goes...

1. I date around- but in a relationship i tend to either get bored or scared to death and end up breaking up with him, so i havent had many serious relationships, just havent met anyone right yet

2. expectations? well, hopefully ill find someone who can put up w/ me and vice versa even though that hasnt happened yet. Best case scenario Id want to be married by 25 but it depends. As for qualities I could make a huge list but I wont bore anyone with that

3. I dont know how great of a parent i'd be but i definitly want children and hopefully will do the best i can raising them

4. career expectations- hopefully to be a public historian at either the Adams Historic Park, Strawbery Banke, Williamsburg, Smithsonian, or Margaret Mitchell House, i also want to write not as a career but on the side for as long as i can and just see if anything comes of it

5. hmm, just trying to make time and be there for both but thats life.