A SEAT AT THE TABLE

For my senior capstone project, I researched different family types (multigenerational, single-parent, elective single-mother, divorced, adoptive, foster, same-sex parent, intentionally childless, and chosen) and the effects of stigma surrounding their “alternative” structures. What I discovered is that every family has its own strengths and weaknesses regardless of their specific structure. There is no such thing as a “perfect” family, and comparing realistic families to ideal ones is not only impractical, but detrimental to the well-being of families overall. The most telling and important element of a thriving family remains healthy and strong relationships. When we focus on being sensitive and respectful toward all types of families, we help build others, ourselves, and consequently the communities and societies we make up. For my visual implementation I wanted to show a traditional family dining setting, with a variety of different place settings and quotes on each plate representing various family structures. I hope to show that every kind of family deserves respect and a sense of belonging, or rather, a seat at the table. My research paper and documentation can be found here.