What is family? The term and concept have become increasingly contested in recent decades, as we witness an empirical shift away from the "traditional" nuclear family toward a broader range of family forms. Policy debates concerning how families form, what families should do for their members, and even what should count as a family. In this course we will examine the empirical reality of family diversity and change and the corresponding theoretical and policy debates. The course will also place considerable emphasis on the relationship between family life and various forms of social inequality, including inequalities of gender, race/ethnicity, social class, sexuality, and nationality. We will conclude by considering possible future directions for "the family."