Definition Essay On Family

Family: a relationship by blood, marriage, or affection, in which members may cooperate economically, may care for children, & may consider their identity to be intimately connected to the larger group.

Family is typically seen as something that is defined by genetics and the idea that blood is what makes a family. This could not be less true. In today’s society family should not be defined by the blood that runs through your veins or your last name, it should be the amount of love that exudes from your heart. Whether you were born into a family, adopted or in the foster care system, your family members are the ones who you share moments of love and joy with, not just a last name.

Family as defined by Webster’s College Dictionary can be one of many different people. Family can be your parents, spouse, children, brother, sister, grandmother, uncle, any blood relative, or even people who are not blood related that share that common bond (Webster 475). My definition of family is similar to Webster’s, but I feel that there is more to it than just being a blood relative or close friend. A person’s actions, beliefs, and morals play a major role in deciding who makes it into that “family” group. Family becomes more of an idea or feeling, like love or hate, than just who a person is or where they fall in

A family can be defined in many different ways and almost every person has their own view and definition of families. Some may define it as simply as the blood relatives they have grown up with, living in the same home for most of their life. Whereas others, including myself, have a much more in depth or personable definition. No matter the culture or living situation, my definition of a family is the people I know will be there for me whenever I need them to be. This includes not only my actual blood related siblings, parents, grandparents and cousins but also my best friends and even some of my parents’ close friends that I have known the majority of my life. Family should not be defined by blood. I have an aunt that was adopted which means she is not blood related, but I still fully consider her family, I believe this has an impact on my own definition of a family. Television today has changed the views and stereotypes on American Families. Stereotypes include the family having a mother and father living in the same home where the mother is a stay at home mom, while the father makes a living for the family. Also the family is usually Caucasian and considered wealthy, living in the suburbs. The shows such as Full House, Good Luck Charlie Keeping Up With The Kardashians have had a major impact on how societies view families in this day and age because of the way they follow these American Stereotypes.

Determining family structure and dynamics as well as defining the family is a complex process. Personally, I come from a very traditional family. Much like the assumptions made by the students in the article Defining Family: Young Adults’ Perceptions of the Parent-Child Bond by Mellisa Holtzman (2008). This is what comes to mind when most people define family; a nuclear family, with married parents, and biological children. However, a family is a complex system and can take on many different forms.

While completing research for this documentation, it was evident that the word family is defined by many in a multitude of ways. The definition of family varies across culture, race and is forever changing. Many define family as being blood related relatives. Although, many also associate close friends or people in their community to be considered family. With the family unit becoming more complex and intertwined it is understandable that the definition would be so broad. Regardless, it is with whom you relate to as your family that you create close bonds.

According to the textbook, family is defined as a self-defined group of intimates who create and maintain themselves through their own interactions and their interactions with others. (West & Turner, Cengage Learning) To me family members don’t always have to be who you’re related to by blood. I have some friends I consider family because they have been through everything with me. I have some friends who don’t get along with their parents, and consider their friends and their friends families a family to them. The textbook definition doesn’t say that family is defined by blood, just that you must have an intimate relationship with them. If you are adopted you might resent your birth parents and not consider them family, and you might consider

Maybe the government is partially to blame for the rise in cohabitation and divorce. In “Cohabitation Instead of Marriage,” Wilson

I believe that that is a very basic definition of the word family. Family goes into far more depth than that. Take Willow Chance in Counting by 7s into consideration. Of course she loved her parents and they loved her and cared for her, but they died. Then, someone that she hardly knew, opened their arms up and took her in. Mae and her family let her stay with them in their home and cared for her. Mae and family and Willow aren’t related by blood. They hardly knew each other except for hanging out at Duke’s office for counseling. When Mae took Willow in, Mae was accepting her into the family. Mae and Willow are family now.

For most of us, the family is considered as a well-known and comfortable institution. The perfect model of the ‘ideal’ family is still mostly considered to be consisted from two different sexes’ parents, and one or more children. Until quite recently, the sociology of the family was mostly functionalist and just in the last few decades has been challenged from various directions.

Family is comprised of a group of two or more individuals related by birth, marriage, and or adoption residing together in a household. Family is an social institution which functions in nurturing both emotionally and financially. This definition of family is the most definitive and sensible definition of family because it describes all aspects of family, and the emotional needs of everyone making up the family. Families that meet the description of my definition tend to be successful as a family. The definition also aligns itself to the common U.S laws of family and family rights. It is an advantageous definition because it outlines what a family not only is, but what it should be if it wants to be a successful family. I use the term success because a successful family is one that is emotionally and financially stable, with values and goals. A stable family is a united family.

When I think of the word family many thoughts and feelings circulate through my mind. I associate family with trust, support, unconditional love, and the list goes on. However, if I were to describe family from my experience, I would have to define it as the people who accept you no matter whom you are despite the flaws and mistakes one has made throughout their lifetime. Therefore, having a family that cares and supports one in whatever it may be is a true blessing that one should not take for granted.

Family is often defined as a basic social unit, in which a group of people is living together and is related to each other by the ties of marriage and the bonds of blood. Family is also defined as a place where we, as human beings, seek shelter and comfort.

The word family is very important as they are the supporting pillars in our lives. Thus family is defined as a group of individuals who share ties of blood, marriage, or adoption; a group residing together and consisting of parents, children, and other relatives by blood or marriage; a group of individuals residing together who have consented to an arrangement similar to ties of blood or marriage. www.yourdictionary.com. 2010). Family is important as it helps in shaping our lives, teaches us self – confidence, self discipline, love, care and affection. It is a place where we can always be our self.

In my family, our interpretation of what family means is not your typical dictionary definition. When I think of family I think of the unity we have, our unity brings us all together and doesn’t just consist of people in our house hold. Anyone who needed a family knew that they had it in our house hold. Friends became family even though they weren’t blood related. We never had a reason not to care for someone just because they were blood family. I would personally define my family as an airplane. My mother is the body of the plane, my father the pilot, my brother the wings, the passengers are the people that become family, and I am the navigation system.