But such expectations can mean there is not much room to stray from a narrow definition of family — which makes the Harris-Emhoff family all the more significant. “It’s striking,” said Ralph Richard Banks, a law professor at Stanford who has written about race, gender and family patterns. (At their wedding, Ms. Harris took part in the Jewish ritual of smashing a glass.) Ms. Harris did not have children. “People have more choices,” Professor Banks said.

Source: New York Times January 17, 2021 08:00 UTC