From all sides we hear that Americans are becoming increasingly
self-absorbed and disconnected, and that our interest in social and
civic responsibility is on the decline. A more encouraging profile
emerges in this study of Americans at work, at home with their
families, and in their communities. The book is based on a national,
representative survey of more than 3,000 Americans aged 25 to
74--plus in-depth interviews with adults drawn from the survey--to
find out what Americans mean by social responsibility.
The book explores the extent to which adults contribute time to
caregiving, social support, and financial assistance to family
members; the time given to volunteer work and financial contributions
to various causes, charities, and organizations; and how these
contributions are affected by job obligations. A major focus is on
age and gender differences, which shows midlife to be a transitional
time when civic activities increase as family obligations decline.
All told, the study adds a hopeful new voice to the overwhelmingly
negative debate about the current state of our civic and social lives.
