Shifting Definitions of Family

Less than one-fifth of U.S. families now fit the traditional "nuclear family" model of a married couple with children. Single-person households and married couples without children now make up more than half of all U.S. households. More women are choosing to have children outside of marriage, and the number of children living in single-parent households is rising. The number of multigenerational households is also growing, and diverse household arrangements such as living with nonrelatives have increased.

Federal legislation defining family has not kept pace with these shifts, however, often failing to include nontraditional or "chosen" families. This evolving landscape of family life calls for more inclusive policies and broader societal recognition of diverse households. For planners who often rely on traditional household structures as a basis for policymaking, it may be essential to rethink existing approaches to accommodate the growing variety of family arrangements.