What term describes a same-sex couple living together with children?

What term describes a same-sex couple living together with children?

• A. Cohabitation
• B. Household
• C. Lone parent family
• D. Gay or lesbian family

Answer: (D)

Think about how sociologists describe family forms by who the adults are and how many parents are involved. When a couple is of the same sex and they live together and raise children, this is described as a same-sex family. The term gay or lesbian family explicitly signals both parents are of the same gender and that the household includes dependent children, which is exactly what the question describes. Cohabitation refers to two adults living together in a relationship, not necessarily with children and not necessarily the same sex, so it could apply to many situations without indicating parenting. A household is any group of people living in the same dwelling, which can include many configurations and is not specific to parenting or the sexual orientation of the parents. A lone parent family is a family with one parent and children, not a couple; that doesn’t capture the idea of two adults raising children. Therefore, the term that best fits a same-sex couple living together with children is a gay or lesbian family.