The word “family” is unique, special, and controversial among different cultures and ethnicities. As defined by Random House Western Dictionary, a family is “any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins” (Dictionary.com). Although the definition from Random House follows the infamous proverb of, “blood is thicker than water,” my definition of family does not. Family is not defined or restricted by blood relations. In my mind, a family is simply a group of people, who loves, supports, and helps each other unconditionally, and endlessly. Regardless of one’s sexual orientation or preference, all families embody these common principles. Thus, a family unites its members through the strong bonds and kinships formed when people come together. (Great intro.) A family traditionally is related by blood. Through marriage, a male and female unite their lives and create new lives by giving birth to children. Procreation allows separate bloods of two completely independent people to intermix giving birth to a new child, which creates new blood and advocates the idea of family defined by Random House Western Dictionary. Although the traditional value and meaning of family still exist in the 21st century, family has begun to change and allowed more variation into what defines a family. (connection between the before and after sentence is a bit choppy) Skepticism makes society unaware of divorce(not clear). People have been ashamed of divorces and shunned those that chose divorce as an alternative method to fix their marriage. Regardless, this shows that the marriage between a man and woman is not always successful. An unsuccessful marriage correlates to an unhappy family. Thus, high di... ... middle of paper ... ...spective” such as a family, which is desired by all (Sullivan 197). (great job here) The idea of family is different from person to person. Regardless of the differences, everyone’s family is unique and special in their own way. No one can judge or discriminate against people for their meaning and interpretation of what a family looks like. For example, family may have two parents; one parent; or no parents (since these are brief phrases, semi-colons shouldn't be used). The variation and differences between families makes culture and society so diverse. Family does not have limitations or boundaries (true). As long as the definition of family contains the qualities of unconditional love, and endless support, help, and guidance; all different families (awk) will be able to succeed and achieve a greater feeling of happiness and a sense of belonging and acceptance.
Family, defined by the Online Merriam Webster Dictionary is, “a group of related people including people who lived in the past.” I believed that the wording of this definition is important because of the word related. The Online Merriam Webster Dictionary defines related as “belonging to the same group because of shared characteristics, qualities, etc.” This goes to show that a family does not have to be lineage, heritage, or chromosomes. There are many different types of families, and though many people think of a nuclear family when they think of a family, there are so many more qualities to consider when deciding how to personally define family.
In a Utopian society most of us would rejoice in knowing that two people such as Mel and Kel who care so deeply for one another, have found each other and are willing to spend the rest of their lives together. Unfortunately we don’t live in a society of that quality and admiration. In any culture, it’s generally conceived that the family is the absolute core of a society. In that, the norms and values of a civilization are directly conveyed from one generation to another through this bloodline. But what exactly is a family? Are there distinct specifications, qualifications or even guidelines that govern the framework for what a family should be? In the Webster’s dictionary a “family” is clearly defined as: “the basic unit in society having as its nucleus two or more adults living together and cooperating in the care and rearing of their own or adopted children.
The book, “Marriages and Families: Diversity and Change, Chapter One: Marriages and Families Over Time,” by Mary Ann Schwartz and BarBara Marliene Scott help distinguish what the word family truly means and the different types of families that are experienced among the United States. Family is defined in many types of ways by everyone, such as, family is the person(s) who share the same blood or family is there when you need them at all times regardless if they share the same blood or not. Family is defined as any relatively stable group of people that are related to one another by blood, adoptions, marriage or by simply living together and provide each other with emotional and economical support according to Schwartz
A family could be described as two heterosexual parents and their children, a single parent and his or her children, two same-sex parents and their children, grandparents or other relatives caring for the children, foster parents caring for another person’s child, inter-racial couples and their children, inter-faith parents and their children, and maybe others I have not even considered. A family could even be something as simple as what my family refers to as a “family of choice:” a situation where a person who is not related by blood or marriage steps into a family role and assumes a position within that family. For instance, in my family, my mother’s best friend stepped into the role of “Aunt Carissa.” As a young child, I remember that Aunt Carissa would often spend evenings at our house helping my mother care for my sister and me while my dad worked nights. She has been a part of virtually every defining moment in my life, such as my pre-school graduation ceremony, my first theater performance and countless holidays. She even attended my sister’s high school graduation. Carissa is completely unrelated to me in any biological sense, but to me she is my Aunt. She was even in the hospital delivery room when I was
Family, and its definition, is universal, it describes a union, particularly with parents and children. One could define Family as a group of people who are related to each other, a person’s children, and a group of related people who lived in the past. In reality, Family has a profound meaning, unique to every household and family. On a personal note, family is defined as a foundation of love, support, and strength.
A family is a connection among a group of people that provides guidance through trustworthy acceptance, security based on concepts of love and respect, as well as stress that stems from authoritative conflict and conformity. Families are a necessity in society. Whether or not some people wish that they were not a part of their family, they would still seek the comfort and security that a family provides.
Almost every minivan has the stick-figure family in the bottom left corner on the back window that shows their family. Yet, it seems that every family consist of a father, mother, kids, and maybe a pet or two. One virtually never sees any variation of a ‘family’. The two men with the adopted daughter, the single mother with a handful of kids, and the lone college student with her dog. An image of a family is limited in the current mindset; it is the average family that is seen when the term is spoken, never the true form of family. The idea of what a family is can be wildly debated and may never come to a true agreement, yet the answer lies in front of each individual, if only they are willing to open their mind and grasp the concept. The definition of family is as
Family comes in different forms, it can be in a form of marriage, the two families united by marriage become one family. It can be in the form of sexual union or reproduction whereby a male and a female sleep together and have children it is said they are making a family.
Family, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary is, “a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head” (Merriam-Webster, n.d). The family is the first and primary agent of socialization. This is where children learn about love, acceptance, security, and companionship (Kendall, 2017).
Every person has a different outlook of what family means. Family is not just being related to each other and living in the same house. I believe its way more than that. Family means being there for one another, loving each other no matter what, making memories that you will always remember, and supporting each other through every step of life. Without family and th...
Family is a word with diverse meaning. As stated by the Oxford Dictionary ( ” A family is a group of people consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit.”) This is the most generic meaning of family in North America but this definition doesn 't comply with other cultures, for example, the African concept of family f states that “ Family is considered a basic cell of society. All social and cultural practices find their connection with a notion of family, either supporting or distorting it”. Family is a big part of what defines our family in our society. Our society is changing, we are transitioning to a new style of living which is isolating family tradition and practice. I (A child who grew up in Canada) have grown
A more sociological meaning of family is; "a connection gathering which accommodate the raising of youngsters and for certain other human needs."
“A family can be defined as a set of people related by blood, marriage or in some other agreed upon relationship, or adoption, who share primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for member of society". (Schaefer, 2009, p. 288) This leads to a wide open range of interpretation on the exact definition of how a family is truly made up. Depending on your culture, religion, or geographical location a family may represent and be comprised of many different ideals and social norms. There are many theoretical perspectives that have their own interpretations on the subject of what a family is and how it is perceived. I will attempt to expound on three of these perspectives; Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionalism.
According to Fitzpatrick, M.A., & Badzinski, D.M (1994), family is defined as “a group of people who create and maintain a mutual identity, emotional bonds, and communication boundaries through how they interact with each other and with others; who share a common past, present and future; and who may or may not share a biological heritage.” There are different types of families, though. Families can be nuclear, gay or lesbian, extended, blended or single- parent. Each of these families has different effects on children as well as the parents.