The family of procreation is a sort of family in which individuals reproduce themselves. This family is created via marriage and the birth or adoption of children. Sociologist Robertson describes the family of procreation as one of two sorts, the other being the family of orientation. The family of orientation is the family into which a person is born and in which early socialisation occurs.

As a collection of meanings and relationships, a family is characterised. They are permanent groups of people related through ancestry, marriage, or adoption. They care for the young, cohabit, and constitute an economic unit. The fundamentalists and the conflict theorists are two groups that describe family structure and function.

Families have been considered by fundamentalists as serving various universal societal purposes. These functions include sexual behaviour management, member replacement, socialisation, care and protection, social placement, social status, affection, and emotional support. The fundamentalist perspective on families, according to conflict theorists, contributes to inequality and social injustice. Mentioned examples of these injustices include fewer chances for women than males, male domination over women, domestic abuse, and restricted sexual expression and mate selection.

Multiple variables, including stress, the changing roles of women, sexual permissiveness, and the waning concept of romantic love, are believed to be contributing to the downfall of the family.