Access Quote by James Q. Wilson
“The selection process has been powerful enough to produce one indisputable outcome: the family is a universal human institution. . . . In virtually every society into which historians or anthropologists have inquired, one finds people living together on the basis of kinship ties and having responsibility for raising children. . . . Even in societies where men and women have relatively unrestricted sexual access to one another beginning at an early age, marriage is still the basis for family formation. It is desired by the partners and expected by society.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Politics and Culture, James Q. Wilson, 1995
Human societies universally organize around families, a stable institution for child-rearing despite varying sexual norms.
In simple terms: Families are universal structures for raising children.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the enduring role of families.
Themes
family
society
kinship
culture
social structure
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
sociological
anthropological
When to use this quote
- policy design
- social services
- community building
- education planning
Key Concepts
anthropology
sociology
institutional theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do families adapt to changing cultural norms?
- What policies support families in diverse societies?
A Different Perspective
Families may not address all modern social challenges equally.
