Sophie Lewis's 'Abolish the Family' manifesto sparks debate on care and kinship structures

Sophie Lewis's 2022 book 'Abolish the Family: A Manifesto for Liberation and Care' expands on her 2019 work 'Full Surrogacy Now', advocating for the abolition of the family as an institution. Lewis argues that the family privatizes care, linking it to racism, colonialism, and oppression. The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 highlighted the nuclear family's limitations, revealing that two adults are insufficient for child-rearing. Lewis draws on historical ideas from Plato, Marx, Shulamith Firestone, and Black feminist traditions, while also referencing utopian socialist Charles Fourier's vision of communal living. Critics, including the author of this review, question the feasibility and desirability of family abolition, noting that care needs persist. Hegel's 'Elements of the Philosophy of Right' (1820) is cited to emphasize the psychological necessity of consistent, loving bonds for development. The review contrasts Lewis's call for 'kith' ties over 'kin' with the practical demands of care, such as nursery bills in the UK, where one in four children live in poverty. Lewis's definition of family as privatized care is scrutinized, with suggestions that socialization of care might reinforce rather than abolish the family. The book is described as punchy and accessible but ultimately seen as lacking a clear vision for what abolition entails, prompting calls for reform instead.