Family dramas have always been compelling when it comes to narrative storytelling on television. The family structure has long been viewed as an essential part of the American Dream. However, many family dramas only represent one type of family: white, straight, cis families composed of a mother, a father, and their 2.5 children. These children are almost always conceived biologically and they play catch outside in front of their white picket fence in their affluent town. This representation does not highlight the truth of the American family but instead showcases a narrow and non-inclusive understanding of an American Dream that disadvantages anyone who is not white, straight, or cis.

There have been shows that challenge the traditional family drama. "Full House," which originally aired in 1987 and is now rebooted, is a story of three men raising children. Additionally, "Gilmore Girls," which first aired in 2000 and is also now rebooted, is a story of a single mom raising her daughter in a quirky small town. These are shows that showcase alternative family structures and do not view them as remotely inferior or inadequate. However, these shows are extremely white and extremely straight. They may avoid a traditional mom/dad approach to family, but they fail to represent the many identities that make up so many families across the world.

There are also family television shows that represent people of color. "Family Matters," "The Cosby Show," and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" all showcase families composed of people of color. "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" also negates a traditional family structure. These shows are huge and extremely influential since they show that families are not all the same and exist in many different shades.

There are also shows that positively represent LGBT+ characters. The trouble is that usually when family shows represent LGBT+ characters, they only depict two white, gay dads raising kids, like on the popular ABC show "Modern Family." While Mitchell and Cameron are represented positively, the show and many like it, ignore including intersectional representations of people of color and LGBT+ characters.

Hollywood has a bad habit of ignoring intersectional stories and consistently fails to depict how forms of oppression overlap. Whether it's because they believe it will be less profitable or ultimately hard for viewers to relate to, Hollywood erases the identities of families and individuals who are both non-white and non-straight. It is hard to even name a show that has a focus on two moms raising children. Representation for more than one minority at a time is almost not existent. Additionally, families that are made up of foster children or adopted children are left out of so many narratives.

That is why Freeform's (ABC Family's) "The Fosters" is so important. "The Fosters" is a show about an interracial lesbian couple Stef (Teri Polo) and Lena (Sherri Saum). Their family includes biological, adopted, and foster children. This show does not shy away from racial or sexual diversity and handles all of the important issues that many shows do not touch. Stef and Lena's youngest child, Jude (Hayden Byerly) starred in the youngest same-sex kiss that ever aired on television. Additionally, the show explores the youngest daughter, Mariana, struggling with her racial identity, the complex issues of transgender foster kids facing discrimination in the foster system, homophobic parents, and various other important issues. There is a repeated line throughout the course of the show, "DNA does not make a family, love does," and that may be the perfect summary of what family dramas should seek to represent. The only "traditional family value" we should worry about preserving is love.