{"id":3534,"date":"2025-12-18T13:28:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?p=3534"},"modified":"2025-12-19T16:25:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T00:25:35","slug":"from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/","title":{"rendered":"From Free Love to Post-Apocalyptic Survival: A Trend of Redefining Family Has Emerged"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n \n \n
\n \n \n
\n\n \n

From Free Love to Post-Apocalyptic Survival: A Trend of Redefining Family Has Emerged<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n\n \n Chosen families are evolving but remain a cherished \u2014 and vital \u2014 lifeline for many. \n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n December 18, 2025<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n \n \n Share\n <\/span>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Copy Link<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Facebook<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n \n\n<\/svg>\n\n <\/span>\n X<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n LinkedIn<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Bluesky<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Email<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Mention \u201ccommunal living\u201d and the image that may spring to mind is the free-love, back-to-the-earth hippy communes of the 1960s, complete with bandanas and fringed suede vests. But communal living is once again very much part of the zeitgeist \u2014 albeit with a very different look.<\/p>\n

Many of the current trend\u2019s most ardent proponents are older adults buying property and land together to create their own intentional retirement communities with good friends. Their reasons for banding together to face their later years surrounded by the companionship and care of friends rather than family are driven by expediency and a desire for mutual support, seasoned by a large pinch of \u2014 often painful \u2014 reality.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact is, you can\u2019t always rely on relatives \u2014 even your own children \u2014 for care,\u201d acknowledges culture critic Karen Tongson<\/a>, professor and chair of gender and sexuality studies<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

What was once the family norm \u2014 mom, dad and kids under one roof \u2014 has become the exception in America.<\/p>\n

In place of the traditional nuclear family, new definitions of kinship are flourishing \u2014 close-knit households bound by love and friendship that focus on shared responsibility, connection and mutual support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Together by Choice<\/h2>\n

One expression of this shift is the rising appeal of communal living. In Los Angeles, the co-living community Treehouse, founded in 2016, offers buildings designed for collaborative lifestyles. Similar intentional communities are popping up across the country, tapping into a renewed appetite for connection.<\/p>\n

In parts of Europe, young people are moving into retirement homes and assisted living facilities. These multigenerational models \u2014 fueled by reduced or free rent for the young in exchange for time spent with senior residents \u2014 are proving a hit with both sides: Older adults gain companionship, while younger ones value the opportunity to build genuine connections across the age divide.<\/p>\n

The concept of chosen family, though, is nothing new. Many people have spent time living in nonbiological families, whether they realize it or not. College, Tongson notes, is often the first time people live away from home and form support networks that can last a lifetime. Consider, for example, our own Trojan Family \u2014 a community bound by support and a shared USC experience. \u201cWe\u2019re constantly creating chosen family in small ways throughout our lives,\u201d Tongson says.<\/p>\n

Today, as traditional family structures fade, chosen families are showing up on our screens, where television reflects shifting ideas about society and what family means.<\/p>\n

Fifty years ago, more than two thirds of adults lived in a traditional nuclear family; now less than a third do.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Screen Reflections<\/h2>\n

Take the sitcom Modern Family<\/em>, which aired from 2009 to 2020. The show follows three diverse, interconnected Los Angeles households, recasting the nuclear family to include adoptive ties, queer relationships and deep friendships. For Tongson, professor of English<\/a> and American studies and ethnicity<\/a>, it was a defining sitcom of the Obama years \u2014 one that presented \u201ca liberal fantasy of family.\u201d<\/p>\n

The series captured hopes that the national family might move beyond racial divisions, while exposing audiences to a new normal in which nonbiological connections could be just as meaningful and enduring as traditional ones.<\/p>\n

Professor Emerita of Psychology<\/a> Gayla Margolin<\/a> sees that message reflected in real life. \u201cFamilies are put together in all sorts of different ways,\u201d she says. \u201cBut families of every kind want the same thing: a better life for their kids \u2014 security, the basics and the chance to avoid repeating mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, the optimism of Modern Family <\/em>proved fragile. \u201cThat fantasy of repair did not come to fruition,\u201d notes Tongson. In today\u2019s era of bitter polarization, environmental crises and pandemic trauma, portrayals of nonbiological kinship have shifted. No longer a hopeful metaphor for society, Tongson says, they\u2019ve become a survival strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Survival Bonds<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a shift reflected in some of today\u2019s most discussed shows. The Last of Us <\/em>and Station Eleven<\/em> are two examples of a growing number of post-apocalyptic stories in which strangers must form makeshift families to overcome catastrophe.<\/p>\n

As Tongson notes, the trend for postapocalyptic TV doubles as a metaphor for a divided nation \u2014 a reflection of how fractured communities must still find ways to care for one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany shows now depict people with no ties forced to create new families in order to survive,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

This mirrors real life. For many nonbiological families, living together isn\u2019t a choice but a necessity \u2014 a response to crisis, not a lifestyle trend. For LGBTQ+ people disowned by relatives, chosen families remain essential. For those facing unstable housing, poverty or weak social services, they\u2019re a lifeline.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen support systems fail,\u201d Tongson notes, \u201cpeople create circles of mutual aid to get through difficult times. That\u2019s why survival has always been at the heart of chosen families.\u201d \u2014T.W.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n
\n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n

\n Family Matters\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

The surprising science of how family relationships shape our brains, behavior, physiology and health.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n\n Read More \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n

\n USC Dornsife Magazine\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Fall 2025 \/ Winter 2026<\/h2>\n

The Family Issue<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n\n Back to Issue \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":970,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrom Free Love to Post-Apocalyptic Survival: A Trend of Redefining Family Has Emerged<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"After Life: What Happens After We Die?- USC Dornsife Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"USC Dornsife Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-18T21:28:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-20T00:25:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Letty Avila\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Letty Avila\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/9c5ea0e5498f3ce1654b108c21ac22bb\"},\"headline\":\"From Free Love to Post-Apocalyptic Survival: A Trend of Redefining Family Has Emerged\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-18T21:28:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-20T00:25:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/\"},\"wordCount\":13,\"articleSection\":[\"Article\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/\",\"name\":\"After Life: What Happens After We Die?- USC Dornsife Magazine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-18T21:28:25+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-20T00:25:35+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/9c5ea0e5498f3ce1654b108c21ac22bb\"},\"description\":\"USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"From Free Love to Post-Apocalyptic Survival: A Trend of Redefining Family Has Emerged\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/\",\"name\":\"USC Dornsife Magazine\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/9c5ea0e5498f3ce1654b108c21ac22bb\",\"name\":\"Letty Avila\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a9cd947869956cb8226c2ee320561df2910cf8855f815cc4f8d77fae0c6ec65?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a9cd947869956cb8226c2ee320561df2910cf8855f815cc4f8d77fae0c6ec65?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Letty Avila\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/author\/lavila\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"From Free Love to Post-Apocalyptic Survival: A Trend of Redefining Family Has Emerged","description":"USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"After Life: What Happens After We Die?- USC Dornsife Magazine","og_description":"USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.","og_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/","og_site_name":"USC Dornsife Magazine","article_published_time":"2025-12-18T21:28:25+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-20T00:25:35+00:00","author":"Letty Avila","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/"},"author":{"name":"Letty Avila","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/9c5ea0e5498f3ce1654b108c21ac22bb"},"headline":"From Free Love to Post-Apocalyptic Survival: A Trend of Redefining Family Has Emerged","datePublished":"2025-12-18T21:28:25+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-20T00:25:35+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/"},"wordCount":13,"articleSection":["Article"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/","name":"After Life: What Happens After We Die?- USC Dornsife Magazine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-12-18T21:28:25+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-20T00:25:35+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/9c5ea0e5498f3ce1654b108c21ac22bb"},"description":"USC Dornsife scholars explore diverse cultural and religious views on the end of life and the mystery of what may follow.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/from-free-love-to-post-apocalyptic-survival\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"From Free Love to Post-Apocalyptic Survival: A Trend of Redefining Family Has Emerged"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/","name":"USC Dornsife Magazine","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/9c5ea0e5498f3ce1654b108c21ac22bb","name":"Letty Avila","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a9cd947869956cb8226c2ee320561df2910cf8855f815cc4f8d77fae0c6ec65?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a9cd947869956cb8226c2ee320561df2910cf8855f815cc4f8d77fae0c6ec65?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Letty Avila"},"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/author\/lavila\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/970"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3534"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3946,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3534\/revisions\/3946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}