Despite all the much advertised changes in technology and popular culture, being 15 today is still much like being 15 a generation ago. Teens’ lives are still framed in large measure by parents, schools, peers, and popular culture.

Farther up the age scale—despite all the changes in the economy—being 35 today bears more than a passing resemblance to being 35 a generation ago. Adults’ lives are still framed by careers, marriage, children, and civic ties.

But I want to suggest that being 25 today is very different. Today’s young adults are much less likely to have committed themselves to a mate or to a career. Unlike my generation, only a tiny fraction experience military service. Many go back and forth between episodic education and temporary jobs and between independent living and their parents’ homes. Most young people in their 20s are living outside of institutions and, therefore, without the structure and norms that institutions provide. Many feel that they are living without a script and are making up their lives as they go. And despite the birth dates on their driver’s licenses, many of them are not sure that they are adults at all.

This publication takes an empirical look at four dimensions of the changing 20s. First, what I regard as revolutionary shifts in the balance between young men and young women in education, employment, and earnings. Second, rapid changes in patterns of marriage and cohabitation. Third, changes in relations between 20-somethings and their parents regarding living arrangements and healthcare. And, fi nally, a startling shift in the defi nition of adulthood itself. (Introduction)

FORWARD:

In October 2007, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy hosted a day-long meeting dedicated to examining the experience of being in one’s 20s. A wide range of authors, social scientists, marketing executives, political strategists, policy leaders, members of the media, and others participated in an engaging discussion of everything from sex and marriage to contraception and politics.

Not surprisingly, one of the foundational questions for the event was whether being in one’s 20s at present is different in important ways from previous decades. Bill Galston— National Campaign Board member, Brookings Institution scholar, and one of the nation’s preeminent social scientists—set out to explore this very question. Galston concluded that despite all the changes that have occurred in society over the last several decades, the experience of being a child or young teen and being an adult remains largely similar to previous generations, but that being a young adult—a 20-something—is now quite different.

This monograph presents what Bill Galston offered at the October 2007 event on this most interesting issue. Words have been changed for clarifi cation but little else has been done to magnify or modify Galston’s original presentation.

For those who want to learn more about teen and unplanned pregnancy, to download a copy of this publication, or to watch a video of the 20-Something in the 21st Century event, please visit www.TheNationalCampaign.org.

Visit The Changing Twenties Website

• Download a free copy of The Changing Twenties.
• Watch a video of Dr. Galston’s presentation at the Being 20-Something in the 21st Century event.

Download The Changing Twenties

PDF format, 601KB, 31Pages.

About the Author:

William A. Galston is a Senior Fellow in the Brookings Institution’s Governance Studies Program and College Park Professor at the University of Maryland. Prior to January 2006 he was Saul Stern Professor at the School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, director of the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, and founding director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).

From 1993 until 1995 Galston served as Deputy Assistant for Domestic Policy to President Clinton, where he had principal responsibility for education policy, among other assignments. His political activities include service as issues director for Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign (1982-1984), as a senior advisor to Albert Gore, Jr.’s run for the Democratic presidential nomination (1988), and again as a senior advisor to Gore’s presidential campaign (1999- 2000).

Galston is the author of eight books and more than 100 articles in the fi elds of political theory, public policy, and American politics. His most recent books are Liberal Pluralism (Cambridge, 2002), The Practice of Liberal Pluralism (Cambridge, 2004), and Public Matters (Rowman & Littlefi eld, 2005). He is a member the Editorial Board of the recently founded quarterly journal, Democracy. In 2004 he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Galston serves on the boards of numerous organizations, including the National Endowment for Democracy, the Council for Excellence in Government, and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

About The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy seeks to improve the lives and future prospects
of children and families and, in particular, to help ensure that children are born into stable, two-parent families who are committed to and ready for the demanding task of raising the next generation. Our specifi c strategy is to prevent teen pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy among single, young adults. We support a combination of responsible values and behavior by both men and women and responsible policies in both the public and private sectors.

If we are successful, child and family well-being will improve. There will be less poverty, more opportunities for young men and women to complete their education or achieve other life goals, fewer abortions, and a stronger nation.

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