Which of the following has traditionally been demonstrated by United States greeting card companies?

• A. Sensitivity to the needs of families of color
• B. Lack of sensitivity to non-nuclear family structures
• C. Sensitivity to large families
• D. Attention to ethnic holidays such as Kwanza

Answer: (B)

Historically, the greeting card industry in the United States has tended to depict a single, traditional family form—typically a heterosexual couple with children. This narrow representation means non-nuclear family structures—such as single-parent homes, blended families, same-sex couples, or extended families—have been underrepresented and often underserved in mainstream cards. That pattern demonstrates a lack of sensitivity to non-nuclear family structures.

Options that claim sensitivity to families of color, large families, or ethnic holidays like Kwanzaa don’t fit the historical pattern as the defining characteristic of greeting card marketing, which has largely centered around the conventional family image rather than a broad celebration of family diversity.