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

200 years ago, people lived in large patriarchal families, with grandparents under one roof. With the onset of the industrial era, the nuclear family of two spouses and one or two children emerged. But times are changing, and alternatives are appearing for such a family that we are used to considering traditional. When we look for life partners, we increasingly base our decisions on what we want, rather than on what is customary. Personal life has become an individual project that can be realized in various ways. This book is about how the institution of the 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, a patchwork family, life alone, and the reasons why people choose different ways of living together.