New Family: Guest Marriage, Patchwork Family, and Other Formats of Relationships in the Modern World

Two hundred years ago, people lived in large patriarchal families, with grandparents under one roof. With the onset of the industrial era, the nuclear family consisting of two spouses and one or two children emerged. But times are changing – and this family, which we have come to consider traditional, is facing alternatives. When we search for life partners, we increasingly base our choices on what we want rather than what is accepted. Personal life has turned into an individual project that can be realized in many different ways. This book is about how the institution of family is changing, what types of relationships between men and women exist today, and what alternatives are emerging. Svetlana Kolchik is a journalist with 20 years of experience. Based on real stories and numerous interviews, she talks about what a Boston marriage is, what a patchwork family is, living alone, and the reasons why people choose various ways of living together.