Conjugal family

A conjugal family is a nuclear family that may consist of a married couple and their children (by birth or adoption) or a couple who are unmarried or underage. Conjugal means there is a marriage relationship. The family relationship is principally focused inward and ties to extended kin are voluntary and based on emotional bonds, rather than strict duties and obligations. The spouses and their children are considered to be of prime importance, and other more distant relatives less important. The marriage bond is important and stressed. A conjugal family is a nuclear family that may consist of a married couple and their children (by birth or adoption) or a couple who are unmarried or underage. Conjugal means there is a marriage relationship. The family relationship is principally focused inward and ties to extended kin are voluntary and based on emotional bonds, rather than strict duties and obligations. The spouses and their children are considered to be of prime importance, and other more distant relatives less important. The marriage bond is important and stressed. Since the notion of 'family' has changed over time (for example, increasing acceptance of same-sex parenting, stepfamily, and adoption), the meaning of the term 'nuclear family' became muddled (some use it to refer exclusively to opposite-sex parents, while others do not). To combat the ambiguity, the term 'conjugal family' was created. There are basic characteristics to a conjugal family. In most western societies, people are free to choose their spouse themselves, rather than their spouse being selected for them by arranged marriage. In western societies, the majority- but not all- pairings are opposite-sex.