Final answer:
The statement that over 40 percent of children are born to unmarried women and that the majority of these births occur within cohabitating unions is true, as evidenced by recent demographic trends and U.S. Census Bureau reports. Cohabitation and single-parent households are on the rise, indicating changes in traditional family structures and marriage patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Over 40 percent of children are born to unmarried women and the majority of such births occur within cohabitating unions - TRUE or FALSE?' could be considered TRUE based on recent studies and demographic changes. The traditional U.S. family structure is becoming less common, with significant rises in the number of unmarried couples cohabitating. For example, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that over time, the number of unmarried couples living together has significantly increased. This change is accompanied by an increase in children being born to these cohabitating couples.
Reports from between 2006 and 2010 indicate that nearly half of heterosexual women were not married to their spouse or partner when they first lived with them. Additionally, the Census Bureau acknowledges a shift from fewer couples marrying, and the growing acceptance of single parenting and cohabitation which could account for a decrease in marriage rates and an increase in non-marital births.
Single-parent households are also on the rise, with a considerable percentage of children living with a single parent, and a portion of these households include children living with their parent and the parent's cohabitating partner. This trend suggests that a large number of children are indeed born to unmarried women, often within cohabitating unions. Such societal shifts, while leading to diverse family structures, also raise questions about the implications for children's well-being, especially when considering the financial and educational advantages traditionally associated with being raised in a home with married parents.