Layout 1

theNebraska marriageamendment which
hadbeen passedby 70%of Nebraska
votersin theNovember 2004election.The
amendment consistedof twoparts:(1)a
definition of marriage;and(2)invalidity
andnon-recognition of same-sexcivil
unions,domestic partnerships,or anything
similar (Marus,2005).

What Is Family?

Generallyspeaking,peoplethinkof
“family”ascomprisingalegallymarried
couplewith biologically related children.
In the context of this book,we will expand
the term to include single individuals,
single parents,families without children,

families with grown children living

outside the home,or families with

children who are not biologically related

or biologically related to only one of the

parents.A family can be as small as two

people.If biological and nonbiological

extended family members are included,a

family can be quite large.Figure 1.1 shows

a recent estimate of family arrangements

in the United States.

Types of Families

In this discussion of family,you will

need to understand the terminology of

family types.Since there are different ways

to define them.As you look at Sidebar 1.1,

Chapter 1

Estimated Family Household Composition in the U.S. for 2003

Total Number of Families = 75,596,000

Femaleheadof household

withoutchildrenunder18

7%

Marriedcoupleswith

childrenunder18

34%

Marriedcoupleswithout

childrenunder18

41%

Maleheadof

householdwith

childrenunder18

3%

Maleheadof

householdwithout

childrenunder18

4%

Femaleheadof

householdwith

childrenunder18

11%

Figure 1.1