I know anecdotes often don't tell what is really happening but anecdotes in my March 2009 diary (http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/3/10/706163/-Updated:-Are-men-being-targeted-for-layoffs) turned out to be indicative of a wider trend. At that time I reported that 4 male relatives had lost jobs but no females. This turned out to mirror something that was happening nationwide.
Since then, several more relatives joined the ranks of the unemployed. At the peak, 6 were out of work and one was working part time at a minimum wage job. We finally got one female into this not very elite club. Now 5 of the 7 have found some work, but in every case the overall package of income and benefits is worse than the job he or she had a couple years ago.
My take is that the unemployment bottom of this recession has come. We are starting the climb back to normal. Unfortunately the new normal is going to be a lot worse than our old normal--lower wages and no or worse health insurance coverage.
For purposes of the poll below I defined family as my siblings, my husband's siblings plus their spouses and children. If your children are too young to work, use parents, aunts and uncles for taking the poll.