Do We Really Know What ‘The Family’ Is?

Abstract

The theme of this book not only implies a relationship between family life and economic life but also presupposes a clear understanding of the two concepts of ‘family’ and ‘economy’. This chapter focuses upon the former concept and will present evidence and argument to support the contention that we are, as scholars and as everyday participants, remarkably ignorant about family life. Following this, it will be made clear that a critical reappraisal of the nature of family life is a fundamental prerequisite for the development of an adequate understanding of the relationship between family life and economic life. Further, it is concluded that the issues of ideology and the social construction of reality are both central to any examination of this relationship.