Professor Susan Golombok

Susan Golombok is Professor Emerita of Family Research, and former Director, of the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge. Susan's research examines the impact of new family forms on parenting and child development, specifically:

• lesbian mother families
• gay father families
• single mothers by choice
• families created by assisted reproductive technologies including:
  • in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
  • donor insemination
  • egg donation
  • Surrogacy

Susan's research has not only challenged commonly held assumptions about these families, but also has contested widely held theories of child development. Her work shows that the quality of family relationships is more important for children’s psychological wellbeing than structural aspects of the family (such as the number, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and genetic relatedness of parents).

"Real Families: Stories of Change", curated by the CFR's Prof. Susan Golombok, ran at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam museum from October 2023 until January 2024. The exhibition showcases more than 120 contemporary pieces, looking at what makes a family in the modern world, and the impact our own families have on us.

The exhibition included painting, photography, sculpture, film, music, and a spotlight on artist Chantal Joffe.

Other featured artists included Albrecht Dürer, Tracey Emin, Lucian Freud, Jim Goldberg, JJ Levine, Aliza Nisenbaum, Hardeep Pandhal, Celia Paul, Nicolas Poussin,  Paula Rego, Joshua Reynolds, Cathy Wilkes... and more besides! 

To read more about the exhibition, click here: Real Families: Stories of Change | To order a copy of the accompanying brochure, click here: Exhibition Catalogue