For example, the number of mothers who work outside the home has increased since the 1970s, but the fact that the mother works is not a new phenomenon. “Mothers sold household products such as dairy and woven goods during the colonial era, took in boarders at the turn of the 20th century, and held industrial jobs during World War II” (Benokraitis 16). Social scientists say family problems such as desertion, out-of-wedlock births and child abuse have unfortunately always existed. Likewise, children growing up in single-parent households is not a new phenomenon. Although the rate of single parents has doubled over the past three decades, it tripled between the 1900s and 1950s. Divorce is also not a recent trend. Micro- and macro-level manifestations that tend to divide the family structure have always existed; nevertheless, they just weren't as widespread or popularized by the media. Families change, but despite the obstacles, they resist. Families manage to cope with daily stress and protect their most vulnerable members: the young, the elderly, the sick or the disabled. The American family is synonymous with change, but it is resilient regardless of gender roles, divorce rates, and life alternatives.