Families

Abstract

Traditional sociological and anthropological literature used to speak about the family, as it was generally assumed that the family is a social group that can be strictly defined and that is distinct from all other social groups. Today, the more inclusive approach is to speak of families, to encompass the various social groups who consider themselves such. The traditional notion of family as husband, wife and children has diversified greatly; indeed, Parke (2013) suggests that this historical baseline is a myth and not supported by history or across cultures. While different family forms have always existed, this diversity is more evident today, encompassing for instance lone parent families; blended or cohabiting families; LGBT+ families; adoptive or fostering families; close-knit extended families and intergenerational households.