Families are an eternal institution – human life is hard to imagine without them. Institutions change over time however. Cultures differ in regard to rules about who can marry whom, and what rights go along with what duties. The quality of people’s lives depends on conventions meeting society’s needs. All too often, that is not the case – but that does not mean that nothing can be done about it. Relevant issues include people's sex life as well as their social protection, the way children are raised and who cares for the elderly. Around the world, women tend to be disadvantaged. As societies change, however, what seems obvious today may become obsolete tomorrow.
