permeable family
a more fluid and flexible version of the nuclear family that some sociologists regard as an emerging norm in contemporary Western society. The permeable family differs from the stereotypical nuclear family in five main areas: It is characterized by (a) a greater variety of family structures produced by divorce, remarriage, and the acceptance of cohabitation and single-parent families; (b) a looser sense of family boundaries, so that the offspring of former relationships may be regarded as part of the family unit for some purposes but not for others (see boundary ambiguity); (c) the erosion of traditional sex roles within the family as a result of feminism and the greater role played by women in the workforce; (d) the erosion of a sense of hierarchy and deference within the family, so that children and teenagers expect greater freedom and respect for their views and preferences; and (e) the tendency for all members of the family to
expect greater autonomy, so that individual activities sometimes take precedence over shared pursuits and rituals (e.g., family meals). See also stepfamily.