A family is usually a group of people related to each other by blood, marriage, and ancestry. A family can also be an adoption, meaning someone has been taken into another family. There are many ethnic groups when it comes to families in America such as African, White, Asian, and Native American families. However, one interesting ethnic group is the Hispanic American family. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are 10.4 million Hispanic households living in the United States. Additionally there are 50.5 million Hispanics living in the United States today and the Hispanic population is made up of 16.3%. The 2010 census also confirms that 63% of Hispanic households in America are made up of a married couple. Family is a good thing to value, but there are many factors that influence family today. Some factors that have influenced Hispanic families are female-headed families, gay and lesbian relationships, ethnicity, and social class. Female-headed households are common in the Hispanic American household. Recent facts have shown that one in four Hispanic children lives in a single-parent home. Facts have also shown that 26% of children's mothers are heads of families. Women who head Hispanic families have difficulty making ends meet at times. They often end up on welfare and other government programs to get them through tough times. The percentages of women in female-headed households vary across different racial and ethnic groups in American households overall. For example, in states such as California, Texas, and New Jersey the percentage of white households headed by women is less than 20%. However, the percentage of female-headed Hispanic households living in California, Texas, and New Jersey is more than 20%. This really shows......half of the document......news-and-events/press-releases/marriage-equality-would-be-most-benefit-for-the-black-sex-couple -and-Latin- families>.Planas, Roque. "What is Latino? Defining America's Ambiguous Ethnicity." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, September 17, 2013. Web. November 21, 2013. “Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among Low-Income Families.” Racial and ethnic disparities among low-income families. Np, nd Web. November 21, 2013. "Women in Female-Headed Households and Children, by Status and Race/Ethnicity, 2006-2008 « » The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation." Women in female-headed households with children, by state and race/ethnicity, 2006-2008. Np, nd Web. November 21. 2013. .