Family Structures

Different Aspects of Family Structures

What society defines to be a family has changed drastically over the recent decades. No longer is it defined as a mother, a father, and their children living together under one roof. In the year 2011, families can consist of a single mother and her child, two fathers and their children, two mothers and their child, or just a man and a woman living together under one roof without any children. Regardless of the structure, families share the same living quarters. A family can also comprise of relatives including cousins, aunts and uncles, grandchildren, or even lifelong family friends that are now referred to as family.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 definition, a family is "a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage or adoption and residing together." The U.S. Census Bureau's definition excludes any persons not directly related by birth, marriage, or adoption.

English: Demonstration of invariance in perception...

Family Portrait

Gay Couple with child

In some states, same-sex marriages are not permitted and therefore by the bureau's definition, they would not be considered a family.

In 2011, the stereotypical family no longer exists. I have witnessed and engaged in countless family structures in various walks of life. Without a question, the family that sticks out the most to me through all my years is a family that from the outside is as normal as all the rest, a typical Caucasian suburban family. There is a mother, a father, their biological children, and grandchildren. Contrary to common belief that the males should be the main provider of the family, the mother is the head of the household while the father stays home to cook and clean. Together they have two sons and two daughters. One of the sons is a transgender while the...