American author and feminist activist Jessica Valenti frequently discusses social norms and how they affect different groups. Her observation that prejudice can be concealed by long-held ideas about the ideal family structure is one of her most noteworthy insights.

According to Valenti, families with a mother, father, and children are thought to be the ideal setting for raising children in many societies. This belief has a long history and is firmly ingrained in cultural customs. Valenti notes, though, that this notion can also be used as a cover for discrimination against same-sex partnerships.

Consider it like a magician's trick: people may be blind to the manipulations taking place behind the scenes (discrimination and inequality) while they are preoccupied with the dazzling performance on stage (the ideal family structure). Overemphasizing the superiority of one particular family type can cause society to ignore or excuse unfair treatment of other family types.

According to Valenti, this emphasis on a single family model impedes advancement in areas like marriage equality and reinforces discrimination. She contends that by questioning the notion that there is a single ideal approach to starting and raising a family, we create room for more inclusive discussions about what families actually require in order to succeed.

Valenti wants to draw attention to these problems in order to get readers to think critically about their presumptions about conventional family structures and how they might affect laws and public perceptions of various kinds of relationships.