Changes in the family and their consequences for the well-being of men, women, and children have long been a central focus of social scientists and social policy. Yet there are still few answers to basic questions about what makes families work.

Why have single-parent, step-parent, and unmarried-parent families become so common? How is growing up in these families different from growing up in a household with married parents? How does having parents of different races or parents of the same gender affect children? What are the social and psychological ways that fathers contribute to families? What are the consequences for growing numbers of children who live apart from their biological dads?

These are but a few of the questions that will be addressed in this first theme project at the institute. The study will put Cornell at the forefront of research on the family, the causes of family change, the broader impacts on society, and the impact on individual life course development of men, women, and children.

Read pdf of the full proposal

Each theme project includes Cornell team members, external team members, and affiliates. Affiliates receive notification of all theme project events and are listed on the Evolving Family web page, but do not receive course release or office space. All Cornell faculty, staff, and students are eligible to become affiliates of the Evolving Family theme project. To join, please send email to socialsciences@cornell.edu