James Saylor #21957737-500443
1013 Alamanda Drive
NPB, FL 33408
Extended Definition of Family1
Introduction
The word family conjures up different mental pictures depending upon personal experiences. One common mental picture of family in the Western world might be mother, father, and children. A more expanded common mental picture of family in the Western world might include relatives (both blood related or related by marriage). While these definitions can be agreed upon when referring to people who are related to each other, they are not the only definitions of family in existence. The term family describing people who band together for a purpose has evolved and adapted to fit cultural requirements. Today there is no one definition for family; the definition depends upon context, but the overall requirement for any family formation is that it perpetuates its basic reason for existing.
The history of the word family which has traveled through history to today’s definition began in the early 15th century as a means to include one’s servants as part of an estate. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary (2016), the word family comes from the Latin word familia which means the members of a household, the estate, property; the household, including relatives and servants. Early origins did not mean mother, father and children. The word domus (domestic) was used for this.
Today, the Merriam-Webster dictionary begins its definition with a simple biological definition of family as “a group of people who are related to each other.” The dictionary goes on to expand the definition by placing the family under one roof and “usually under one head” aka household and gives them a common ancestry (clan) or common stock (race). The dictionary definition, although it continues to describe other various combinations of family situations, cannot hope to cover all cultures and all arrangements of family within these cultures.
The thesis of this essay is that regardless of the formation of a family unit, the definition for the understanding of family has changed and transformed all over the world and the changes in the different and the various definitions of family have developed a variety of structures for family that will last forever.
First, I will discuss the various formations of the family unit to further develop my thesis statement.
Various Formations of the Family Unit
People who band together in a family configurationis done for many reasons – mainly to unite as a tight-knit group. From the beginning of the human experience to modern day there has been one powerful purpose for establishing biological families which are formed in order to perpetuate the species. Other examples of reasons for forming families may be social, cultural, educational, or fact finding. Typically adding new members to these groups is done not only to enrich the purpose but also to perpetuate the purpose for formation.
Families are formed for protection in order to allow the group to continue to grow and expand. Overtime family units which had been established for simple protection from animals and the elements evolved needing other types of protection. Today, groups of people often band together in order to afford housing and share food and utilities (economic protection).These groupings are often biologically related, but not always. Economic protection allows family members to pursue such ideals as further education, appreciation of the arts, religious pursuits and other extensions of culture.
The definition of family quickly rises above the nuclear family unit as we consider a more in-depth definition to be two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another and reside usually in the same dwelling. Now the definition has expanded to include non-related individuals. Further expansion includes the need for a purpose in a family type arrangement. Members of any family indicate that the others in the family have meaning and importance to them. Simply living together in a household consisting of parents and children does not necessarily mean that the members act, function or fulfill any definition of family. There are many cases where this type of living situation has little to do with establishing or belonging to a family with purpose. At this point, the definition fans out even further to begin to include groups of people with similar purpose. For example those who are members of Al-Anon consider themselves to be family (The Twelve Traditions). As a member of this family grouping, they indicate that there is meaning and importance in their relationship to the others of the group.
Aside from the main purpose of furthering of purpose, the word family must be defined by placing the issue in social context. There is substantial evidence that the quick definition given by most people (two adults and children) is rapidly changing and is adapting to the changing environments. It does not matter that these new definitions are sometimes diametrically opposed to what might be called “normal” or “acceptable” under today’s social conditions.There are now new and different definitions of the family unit. With the growing acceptance of homosexual relationships in the United States, as well as around the world such as in other countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, the family unit would then be formed of two same-sex parents and the children. Also, family could be made of different generational structures. With more adult children taking care of their elder parents, the family unit could consist of a married couple where one person in the couple is linked by blood to their parents and then the parents being part of this newly formed family with another generation of the married couple’s children under the same roof. Conversely, due to the breakdown of the family structure amongst some people, a family could also consist of a group of tightly-knit friends, common-law spouses and/or elder people where there is a situation of seniors helping seniors. Family also has cultural roots, such as in the African tradition where aunts and uncles are seen as closely linked to mother and father figures for the children of a family. As well, in the Caribbean it is common that grandparents will look after their grandchildren and a family unit may consist of a grandparents looking after their grandchildren while the biological parents are outside of the given country earning more money to send to the family while abroad. As well, through adoption, a family unit could consist of non-biological parents in either an open and/or closed adoption structure where parents who are not related by blood to the child/ren are taking care of the offspring.
Family now becomes any socially accepted grouping of people with the same sub-purpose. In addition, those who widely recognize their connection with others as family give their connected ideals certain respectability because in identifying family members they recognize that these members have meaning and importance to them. For example, there are those who play on the same team who call their teammates family.
Today we have many definitions of family which have all been determined by cultural context. Nearly all cultures have definitions for blood-related individuals.In most societies, the family is seen as a “fundamental source of social solidarity, the place where some of humankind’s deepest needs for belonging are met, as well as the wellspring of the emotional and social support needed to thrive and survive in society” (Engels). Following this basic definition cultures split on issues such as single parenthood, role of children in a family and more.
In some cultures, the traditional family follows the mother’s lineage while others follow the lineages of both parents. Often this does not go above first cousins and some societies do not even recognize importance of relationships between siblings or cousins. Configurations for requirements of blood line are nearly limitless. The definition of the word family has changed over the years from that simple historical definition to today where some people might consider their pets to be their family. Such definitions determine how life is lived and decisions made.
Today’s family is a subset of the structure which protects the continuation of today’s society. As a whole, society has needs which must be met in order for the society to continue. For example, most societiesbegin their structure through the biological family. The needs of the society determine the shape of this structure. For example, following a war, the definition of family lends itself to heterosexual bonding in a nuclear family in order that there be procreation and child rearing. On the other hand, when a society is approaching over-population, the family bends its definition to conditions which support childless situations. In the 1950s, following World War II, people married young and had large families. In the good economic times of the 1960s and 1970, people were more interested in their personal growth than in the need to expand the population and “marriage rates fell and divorce rates rose” (Gabel). Once the basic family structure is established, the sub-structures can grow such as families of motorcycle riders or families of sports enthusiasts. At any time in history, the status of a society is one where family has adapted to changes of the economic ups and downs,.
The state has a hand in determining the definition of family. Under conditions where there are few social institutions, the family begins to look to the needs and interests of the individual. Now the family begins to be defined in terms of situations and interactions. Members voluntarily join with others to form a family. They establish the power to continue or dissolve such relationships without permission from authorities such as the church or state. Members seek personal fulfillment in many ways. Each variation defines its own mutually agreed upon rules of “obligations, responsibilities and commitments toward each other when they choose to create family” (Diem). Thus, the state’s involvement, or lack of involvement perpetrates the creation of families with similar interests.
Families will not always have a biological element. Today we see groups with no biological connections securely creating situations wherein children are reared by extended members of the family due to need or choice. The definition of biological family cannot be limited to the Western concept alone. Expanding beyond the Western cultures, we see many family relationships which indicate that there cannot be a single definition for family. For example, the Nairs of India have situations where “three or four men have a wife in common, each of them can have a second wife in common with another three or more men, and similarly a third and a fourth and so on” (The Family).
It is clear that the evolution of the word family from “familia” referring to servants or domestic employees to “familiar” meaning “close friendship” (Online Etymology Dictionary) has followed the need and permission of society and exists in context of these societies. Western civilization has changed dramatically from clearly defined roles and expectations of the members of a family to groups of individuals who band together for personal satisfaction and needs. These sub-cultures of a society in general will continue to adjust to the needs of that society. Today there is no one definition for family; the definition depends upon context, but the overall requirement for any family formation is that it perpetuates its basic reason for existing. Now I will conclude.
Conclusion
The word family conjures up different mental pictures depending upon personal experiences. One common mental picture of family in the Western world might be mother, father, and children. A more expanded common mental picture of family in the Western world might include relatives (both blood related or related by marriage). While these definitions can be agreed upon when referring to people who are related to each other, they are not the only definitions of family in existence. The term family describing people who band together for a purpose has evolved and adapted to fit cultural requirements. Today there is no one definition for family; the definition depends upon context, but the overall requirement for any family formation is that it perpetuates its basic reason for existing.
Works Cited
Diem, Gordon. “The Definition of Family in a Free Society.” Formulations. Formulations, Spring 1997. Web. 9 May 2016.
Engels, Frederick. “The Family.” Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State. marxists.org. 4 October 2010. Web. April 16, 2016.
“family.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011. Web. 8 May 2016.
“family” etymonline.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. n.d. Web. May 1, 2016.
Gabel, A. “The Marriage Crisis.” Virginia. Virginia, Summer 2012. Web. 22 May 2016.
“The Twelve Traditions.” Al-Anon Family Groups, al-anon.org. n.d. Web. May, 9, 2016.