Midterm

Chapter 9:

Exclusionists: Exclusionists believe in the most “traditional” definition of family, which strongly emphasizes heterosexual, married households that include children and in which women and men assume traditional gender roles.6 Exclusionists may accept other family forms under certain conditions; for example, counting single-parent households as family by assuming that the single parenthood was involuntary (for example, being a widow or widower). Exclusionists are divided about whether cohabiting heterosexual couples count as family but unequivocally exclude same-sex couples with or without children in their definition of family. This group of responders is the least flexible in their viewpoints of who counts as family. (Majority: the definition of family is firmly rooted in religious tradition and the Bible or law.)

lnclusionists: As the term implies, inclusionists embrace a very broad, all-encompassing definition of family. This group makes little or no distinction between households with and without children, between married and unmarried households, or between gay and lesbian and heterosexual households. This group accepts the widest range of alternative definitions of family. (Some would: the definition of family is firmly rooted in religious tradition and the Bible. But also, a family is a group of people who have responsibility for each other and who you cannot get away from. For example, maybe two people live together, even have a relationship. But they can leave anytime, you know. But with children, they will carry these things for life.)

Moderates: Moderates are positioned somewhere in between the restrictive views of exclusionists and the "all-in" views of inclusionists. That is, they are partially open to a more expansive definition of family, especially if, as we discuss later, the people in the household tangibly signal commitment to each other. These signals can include marriage or the presence of children. For moderates, married cross-sex couples and all living arrangements that involve children, including same-sex couples with children, count as family. For moderates, caring for children seems decisive to bestowing family status on various living arrangements. (Most:People who love each other, that’s all and the presence of a long-term relationship)