StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Definition of family - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay discusses the definition of family. According to the author, a family comprises of the people who are close to someone by blood, marriage or friendship. People related by blood are those that can be termed biologically as having the same genetic makeup…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.6% of users find it useful
Definition of family
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Definition of family"

DEFINITION OF FAMILY According to me a family comprises of the people who are close to someone by blood, marriage or friendship. I come from a nuclear family of nine members: four brothers, two sisters, my mother and my father. On top of that I have so many friends whom I consider as my family because they offer a lot of support to me just likes how family members do .In support to this the oxford dictionary explains that a family can be a group of people related by blood or marriage.It further explains that people related by blood are those that can be termed biologically as having the same genetic makeup while those related by marriage are those who come together due to a mutual agreement and whose relationships are guided by vows taken at the time of marriage .It goes further to explain that a family comprise of people who share a great sense of loyalty and intimacy. This includes people related by blood, marriage, adoption and friends. Friends who give one a sense of belonging, care, love and protection can be termed as family. On religious values, a family is supposed to have a common believe that is, if it’s Christianity, Muslim or Hinduism .My family members are Christians, we conduct religious activities together and this has strengthened our bond. A family without similar religious values is said not to be in full unity. The same political values should be obtained after several consultation and discussions and a conclusion reached as to what is best for the family. Common view on the social way of life is brought about by code of conduct that guides the family. It is very important for every member of the family to understand the code of conduct. This enables a family to be identified by a certain code. Some examples are some families are well known for their bravery, others honesty while others due to their generosity. It is important for a family to ensure that the negative traits such as dishonesty and cowardice are taught against to members of the family. These traits give a family a bad name in the society. According to cultural beliefs, families that follow the code of conduct are said to be happy and prosperous. On the other hand, a family that does not adhere to these beliefs is said to fall apart. According to me the best code of conduct is togetherness; families should maintain good ties, communication and recognizing your role in the family .In my family everyone understands his/her role for example supporting each other in times of need. Understanding one’s role in the family reduces conflict s and hence promotes togetherness. Also a family can be viewed as a group of people with common ancestry. This shows that people of the same origin can be termed as family. Members of the same family share so many things in common. This is so because every family is guided by rules, regulations and behavioral traits that are instilled to children by the parents. It follows then that people of the same family have the same view on religious, political and social way of life. Structure of family Family fall into two types which are nuclear or extended family(Paul Cheney, 2009). A nuclear family consists of father, mother and children. This is the simplest form of family. Father and mother are related by marriage while they are related to their children by blood. Parents can also be related to their children through adoption whereby they parent a child who is not biologically theirs. An extended family is a family that includes people who share the same lineage and have common ancestors. Extended family gives moral and financial support to each other. It is the responsibility of every member in the extended family to uphold the name of the family in terms of moral traits and financial status. In the nuclear family, it is the role of the parents to nurture the children. This means that parents should educate their children on important life skills in their preparation to adult life. Children are expected to heed to their parents’ advice and are expected to pass on whatever they are taught to other generations. This ensures that a society of desirable moral traits is maintained all through the generations. It is also the role of the parents to bring up a family they can comfortably raise. The parenting capability of every parent is gauged by how well they raise their family. They should be in a position to provide the basic needs to the family. Hence parents are advised to raise a family they can manage well. Of all the roles, the most important role parents can play to their children is that of being their role model. Children tend to emulate the behavior of their parents. This shows that all parents should always be at their best behavior all the time so as to show their children how to behave. ORIGIN There prevailed among the American whites a form of monogamy easily terminable on both sides, which was called the “pairing family.”The issue of the married pair was known to everybody (Engels, Origin of family) known and identified by everyone: there was without a doubt whom was to be referred to as father, mother, daughter, son, sister or a brother. However these names were in fact used rather in a different way. The man not only referred to his own young ones as his daughters and sons but also the kids of his brothers; and they referred to him as the father. The kids of his sisters, on the other hand, he referred to them as his nephews and nieces, and they referred to him as their uncle. The woman, however referred to her sisters’ kids, as well as her own, her daughters and sons, and they referred to her as the mother. However, she referred her brothers’ kids as her nephews and nieces, and she was referred to as their aunt. In a similar fashion, the children of brothers called one another brother and sister, and so did the kids of sisters. The mother’s own children and the kids of her brother, however, called each other cousin. And these are not just empty names, but expressions of true conceptions of nearness and farness, of equality and distinction within the levels of consanguinity: these conceptions function as the basis of a completely elaborated system of consanguinity in which a number of hundred different relationships of one particular person can be expressed. Conclusion In the modern world, it is very hard to define family. This is so because parents nowadays have little influence on their children. Children are mostly influenced by their peers and also by the media. Children are influenced negatively by whatever they learn on the television and on the internet. Parents have also delegated the duty of molding their children to teachers. It becomes very hard for a teacher having several pupils to monitor and tutor each and every pupil closely. Also due to hard economic times, parents spend most of their time working. This means there is no or less family time. There has also been a case of neglect of children by parents leading to suffering of children. This has led to children being sent to foster homes. Hence it can be concluded that family is anyone who gives you a sense of belonging, care, love and protection. REFERENCES Cheney Paul “Chapter 13 - Family." Free Books from UVU. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012. . Bray, James H., and Mark Stanton. The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of family psychology. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Print. Engels Frederick “Origins of the Family." Marxists Internet Archive. N.P., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012. . Simpson, J. A., and E. S. C. Weiner. The Oxford English dictionary. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989. Print. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Definition of family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1”, n.d.)
Definition of family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/family-consumer-science/1611893-definition-of-family
(Definition of Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words - 1)
Definition of Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words - 1. https://studentshare.org/family-consumer-science/1611893-definition-of-family.
“Definition of Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words - 1”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/family-consumer-science/1611893-definition-of-family.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Definition of family

Family as a Social Setting

Spending time on holidays brings out the moments that have a significant impact on the strengthening of family circles.... family Settings Name Institution affiliation Tutor Date family Settings A family is a social setting consisting of people related to each other by blood.... When referring to family, a picture of parents and their children is the best example of a family.... A family setting usually comprises individuals related by blood....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Family as a Growing Unit

On the other hand, many thoughtful people will consider this Definition of family quite rational since it covers all major aspects of relationship between individuals forming a family.... Therefore, my Definition of family implies that family members assume certain financial and spiritual responsibilities towards one another and help one another not only in legal matters, but in every walk of life.... Family is a unit of individuals bonded together with intimate relations (blood relations or other) sharing common roots, values, culture, beliefs and love (in most cases) where certain members have legal or ethical implications of helping the other members financially. In a… Traditionally, there is no concept of family if the individual members do not love or take care of one another....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Sociology Assignment

First the paper discusses the Definition of family and how it has changed through time and then analyze the family's characteristics and show why families are multi-racial, multi-cultural, dynamic and unique.... Today's society's Definition of family has changed from how different societies from different eras define families.... Single parenthood as a result of teen pregnancies has also changed the Definition of family life because normally family is composed of a father,...
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The Most Basic Function of a Family

It must be the above mentioned features such as lack of love, attention and financial security which must have created doubts in the mind of sociologists about the correct definition of ‘family' in current times.... Even in the current times families have to take the help of schools, churches,… But the most important feature in a family of human beings in the phenomenon of Parenting.... Mother and father of a child (or children) form a family where they become parents and teach young children about many XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX family The most basic function of a family cannot be based on mere economical or social reasons....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Why 70s generated and accepted new definitions for family structures and gender roles

However, the Definition of family varies across different societies as well as across different generations (Furstenberg, 35). For instance, in Feudal Europe as well as This meant that even servants were part of the family (Ellwood and Christopher, 34).... The implication of this is that there is no universal Definition of family.... The United States Census Bureau defines a family as a group of people that live together and they are somehow related whether by birth, adoption or marriage (U....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

What has motivated the desire to pursue primary care practice

Definition of family Practice, Primary Care, and Primary Care Practice.... According to the American Academy of family Physicians, primary care practice encompasses several activities including counseling, diagnosis and treatment of chronic and acute ailments, patient education, health maintenance, health promotion, and disease prevention (Derry Medical Center, 2014)....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

The Family's Problems in America

His definition of the family is broad, intergenerational with dependants.... This essay called "The family's problems in America" demonstrates David Popenoe's presentation of the views of various scholars and their stand on the decline of the American family.... He outlines the main problems that can occur, a family's weakness, the role of the family in modern society.... hellip; David Popenoe further states that family researcher has varied views on the issue with some stating that it is a myth while others state that the family in America is not declining but changing....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Role of Family in Contemporary Society

Through choice, the Definition of family has evolved to challenge the definition of the married heterosexual couple and their children sort of family (Corbett, 2004, p.... This essay "The Role of family in Contemporary Society" focuses on the role of an institution that an individual first interacts with others other than him or herself and one learns to think, relate, value, and respond to what is happening around them.... For instance, a couple may start a family for economic reasons and may therefore delay or decide not to have children, in their own eyes they are a complete family since they provide each other with companionship, intimacy, and all the other elements accessible by the married heterosexual couple and their children sort of family....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us