2025 Conference Overview & Theme

Power, Privilege, and Difference: Lived Experiences of Changing Families and Societies

Sadguna Anasuri, Ph.D., CFLE
2025 Conference Program Chair 

The United States has a long history of systemic oppression and disparities in power and privilege. Within this social framework, power refers to the capacity to control access to resources and opportunities, on the other hand, privilege denotes the unearned advantages afforded to certain individuals or groups based on factors such as race, gender, or social status. Groups with less power or privilege are often characterized as marginalized, oppressed, or disadvantaged, facing systemic disenfranchisement, invisibility, dehumanization, and exploitation. In contrast, dominant or advantaged groups hold power and privilege, which grants them disproportionate access to resources. Achieving genuine equality necessitates a candid evaluation of the systemic structures that perpetuate these inequities and develop strategies to ensure equitable access for all. The conference theme aims to explore how these structures can be dismantled to foster a more inclusive society.

Societal structures are continuously shaped by various factors, reinforcing divisions between those who hold power and privilege and those who are marginalized. Historically, these divisions have been perpetuated through stratification based on wealth, education, land ownership, race, ethnicity, language, religion, culture, and historical context. Despite significant progress in the United States, systemic bias, prejudice, and discriminatory practices against individuals who deviate from dominant social norms remain deeply embedded in society. These divisions now extend beyond race and ethnicity to encompass religion, political ideology, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, language, and other social markers. As a result, the contemporary social landscape continues to perpetuate critical injustices, including racial profiling, police brutality, mass incarceration, social incivility, and the inhumane treatment of immigrant families, alongside numerous egregious violations of child and human rights.

Amidst these systemic challenges, the 2025 NCFR Annual Conference theme aspires to illuminate often overlooked and complex issues within a safe and constructive framework, encouraging rigorous discourse among scholars and practitioners. This conference provides a critical platform for exploring the implications of these dialogues for both practical applications and policy development. The plenary and invited speakers will examine the intersectionality of race, economy, and education while investigating their implications for power dynamics, privilege, and social differences.

The conference theme encompasses a wide range of topics, including access, disparities, incivility, inequality, power, privilege, and tolerance within the context of families (for further details, please visit ncfr.org). Submissions are encouraged to offer substantive insights that can inform both, practice and policy in these complex and interconnected areas, ultimately advancing the field's approach to these critical issues. The conference offers opportunities for researchers, theorists, and practitioners in the family field to deepen their understanding and effectiveness in fostering meaningful change within their communities. We encourage participants to engage in critical analyses of the lived experiences of families, emphasizing the importance of social differences and historical disparities. Our goal is to identify and address systemic barriers, evaluate evidence-based strategies, contribute to formulating relevant policies, and promote social equity.

Conference Goals:

• To engage in a comprehensive analysis of the differences experienced by individuals, families, and societies both in historical and contemporary contexts
• To examine the lived experiences of families across differences in race, ethnicity, language, education, income, occupation, family structure and composition, physical ability, physical and mental health, immigration status, and religious or political views
• To promote conversations on the intersecting effects of historical and social determinants and future directions to minimize adverse effects
• To share research, interventions, and systemic solutions to barriers, thus creating a more equitable society
• To develop approaches that alleviate the impact of continued oppression and disadvantage on families
• To highlight the roles and responsibilities of Family Scientists, Family Life Educators, practitioners, therapists working with couples and families, and policymakers in unmasking and fighting differences that deepen the divide
• To foster a continuous collaborative dialogue leading to the creation of social policies and laws that are impartial, inclusive, and equitable

The conference theme encompasses a wide range of topics, including access, disparities, equality, incivility, inequality, power, privilege, and tolerance within the context of families (for further information, please visit ncfr.org/ncfr-2025/call-for-proposals). Conference submissions are encouraged to include substantive insights that inform practice and policy in these complex and interconnected areas, ultimately advancing the field's understanding of these critical issues.

The conference aspires to create opportunities for researchers, theorists, and practitioners in the family field to enhance their understanding and effectiveness in fostering meaningful change within their communities. I hope participants engage in critical analyses of the lived experiences of families, highlighting the significance of social differences and historical disparities. Together, we will thoroughly examine evidence-based strategies to address systemic barriers and promote social equity.