Brian Powell

Brian Powell talks about how Americans’ definitions of family are changing and what that means for public policy. Counted Out: Same-sex Relations and Americans' Definitions of Family broadens the scope of previous studies of how Americans view their own families to examine the way Americans characterize the concept of family in general. Although such issues as same-sex marriage and gay adoption remain at the center of a cultural divide, Counted Out demonstrates that American definitions of family are becoming more expansive, not less.

We frequently hear the term “values” discussed with regard to American politics, culture and life. But what are "American values," exactly? All week, we’re delving into this question. Yesterday, we discussed reinvention. And today, we’re looking at family: how we came to use the terms “family values” and “American values” interchangeably, and the moving target of what Americans actually consider a family.