Introduction. The starting point of this paper is Axel Honneth’s conception of recognition, which is embedded in the broader context of his philosophy, in the social theory elaborated by him, critical theory (the question of emancipation) and the problem of the struggle for recognition. The basis of Honneth’s conception of recognition, which derives from Hegel’s notion of intersubjectivity as mutual recognition, is the way in which recognition is formed and its meaning for the individual (as well as the meaning of its refusal or lack thereof) in three areas of social life: family, law, and economics. Aim. The focus of this article is on the first of these areas, the family, and its significance for individuals’ understanding of mutual recognition. Drawing on Honneth’s thinking, I outline in the article the nature of the recognition relationship within the family and its significance for the formation of what matters most to individuals; individual identity and autonomy. The particular dimension of the recognition relationship in the family that Honneth brings out is its affinity with the relationship of love. In the article, I show how recognition is constructed, starting with the transformation of a young child into a mature person, and how recognition in the family becomes a source of individual autonomy, also becoming the basis for the construction of recognition (the struggle for recognition) in the other two areas of social life. Methods and materials. Critical subject literature review. Results and conclusion. The aim of this article is to describe a family model based on recognition/love relationships as fitting into current discussions about the family, particularly in feminist discourse, in which it is important that the Honnethian account of recognition/love leads to partnership and equality within the family and autonomy for its members.