What is the sociological definition of a family?

You cannot group all families under one sociological definition

Question: What is the sociological definition of a family?
Position‹5 of 6›: It depends on the type of family and approach
Argument‹2 of 3›: You cannot group all families under one sociological definition

Families appear in many guises and forms. No single sociological definition can effectively include all families, while excluding close friendship groups.

The argument

Low-income families function differently to high-income families. A “traditional” family with one parent of each gender has different characteristics to single-sex families, adoptive families, foster families, and estranged families. Families without children but with older dependents function differently to families with young children, which function differently to families with older children. It is not possible to pin down one single sociological definition for the diversity of “family” units.

Context

There are many sociological constructs for a family. Therefore, it is impossible to group all units together under one definition.

Premises

[P1]Families differ fundamentally by circumstance—low-income versus high-income households, and two-parent versus single-sex, adoptive, foster or estranged families all function differently. [P2] Families also vary by dependents, with childless households caring for elders differing from those raising young or older children, so no single description fits them all. [C] Because family structures are too diverse to capture in one framework, the sociological definition depends on the type of family and approach.

Counter-arguments

A cross-cultural approach with a wide enough sample can, and has, defined the family unit. Families across the world share certain traits. They live under a shared roof. They have some level of economic dependency and integration, and the reproduce in some capacity (either biologically or through adoption/fostering). These criteria are applicable to family units across the world, whatever guise or form they take.

Rejecting the premises

[P1]With a wide enough sample, a pattern emerges which allows for the deduction of a sociological definition of a family.