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The evolution of the family unit and its representations
What is a family ? Changing forms, lasting bonds.
The family is a central structure in society, but its form and role have changed a lot along the centuries. In the past, a lot of families were large and multigenerational. People often lived together in small spaces, especially in working-class or poor environments. Parents, children, grandparents, aunts and uncles all shared the same home.
After World War II, a new ideal appeared, especially in the United States : the nuclear family. This model, with a father, a mother, and two children, was promoted in advertising, films, and television. It reflected a vision of stability, prosperity, and traditional gender roles : the man worked outside while the woman stayed home and brought up their children.
But real life is seldom so simple. Across the English-speaking world, many other forms of family have always existed : single-parent families, extended families, or chosen families made up of close friends. In recent decades, more and more people have started to accept and represent these variations.
For example, same-sex parenting and adoptive families now appear in books, series, and public life. These changes show that love and care, not biology or tradition, are what define a family.
Even today, however, traditional images remain strong in some media and political speeches. The family unit is still a space of tension : between old ideals and new realities, between stability and change.
From Dickens to LGBTQ+ families : new models emerge
In the 19th century, British author Charles Dickens wrote about working-class families living in poverty and overcrowded homes. In novels like Oliver Twist or David Copperfield, children are often separated from their parents, raised in institutions or by strangers. Dickens showed how economic and social conditions could break families apart which was a contrast to the happy, stable ideal we see later in the 1950s.
In post-war America, the nuclear family was celebrated as the norm. TV shows like Leave It to Beaver or The Brady Bunch presented perfect households : smiling parents, polite children, clean homes. But this image excluded many real families, especially minorities, immigrants, or those who lived differently.
Today, representation is more diverse. Books, films, and series now include LGBTQ+ parents, multicultural families, and non-traditional living arrangements. For example, shows like American sitcoms Modern Family or Pose celebrate the variety of human relationships and the bonds that connect people beyond biology.
These evolving representations help break stereotypes and show that family is not just a model — it’s a reflection of society. As society changes, so does the way we live together, support each other, and define what it means to be "a family."
