Final answer:
Sociologically, Sandra and Terry would be considered family or household members due to their past cohabitation and shared life, despite the narrower legal definitions that may not recognize their arrangement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sandra and Terry, given their past romantic cohabitation in a common dwelling for two years, would likely be considered a family or household members under broader sociological definitions, which recognize diverse forms of kinship beyond the traditional legal constraints. The traditional U.S. Census Bureau definition of a family focuses on people related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together, a criterion that fails to encompass individuals like Sandra and Terry. However, sociological perspectives argue for a more expansive view, recognizing that families can be defined by both choice and mutual commitment, reflecting a wider range of living arrangements and relationships in the modern context.
In cases like that of Sandra and Terry, who shared socioeconomic needs while cohabitating, as well as potentially presenting themselves as family to the outer world, it is reasonable to assert they were functioning as a family unit during their time together. Nonetheless, the question of whether they would be legally recognized as such may depend on the local jurisdiction’s laws and the definition of family or household members employed in ENF-006. Similar challenges were faced by Sharon Kowalski and Karen Thompson who, despite their mutual commitment and shared living arrangement, initially struggled to have their relationship legally recognized due to the constraints of traditional legal definitions of family.