The Ties That Bind
The developmental fibers that are woven into the intricate nature of the human soul can be in many ways traced back to the ancestral roots, sewn in the cultural development that makes each individual special in their own way, yet tying them to a landmark that defines who they are. This landmark is enshrouded in the processes of socialization known simply as family. The rearing of every member is a task taken on not by a singular entity but by a group consisting of experiences, knowledge and traditions that will carry the heritage handed down throughout the generations to each newly born family member. Family is simply the ties that binds one generation to the next, and allows the social properties of development to shine brightly.
Within the structural and biological makeup of every living organism on the planet is the biological landmark known as genes, these genes are simply what makes every organism what it is, however what it does not tell researchers is how one should and can interact socially in a given environment. The question then arises “what gives human beings their language, traditions, social rearing and way of life”? The answer seems to derive from social interaction within the family that imparts certain important social characteristics that must be inherited, learned and adapted into the human construct. To better understand the importance of social interaction that relies solely within the family one must first understand what a gene is and how it governs human genetic makeup. A gene is as stated by Fundukian (2010) “the fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. It is an individual element of an organism’s genome and determines a trait or characteristic by regulating biochemical s...
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...ifornia: SAGE Publications.
Fundukian, L. J. (2010). Gene. The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, 624-626.
Hodder, H. F. (2004). Changing demographics, economics, and laws alter the meaning of matrimony in America. The Future of Marriage, p. 38+.
Kendall, D. (2014). Sociology in Our Times . Retrieved from digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu: http://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/books/9781305450387/id/P1-185 pbs.org. (2013). Women and Work After World War IIOther General Articles . Retrieved from pbs.org: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tupperware-work/
Qian, Z. (2005). Breaking the Last Taboo: Interracial Marriage in America. Interracial Marriage in America, pp. 33-337.
Wiseman, D. G. (2008). The American Family : Understanding Its Changing Dynamics and Place in Society. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD.
...Many Kinds of Family Structures in Our Communities." . N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2014. .
Since the beginning of time, mankind began to expand on traditions of life out of which family and societal life surfaced. These traditions of life have been passed down over generations and centuries. Some of these kin and their interdependent ways of life have been upheld among particular people, and are known to contain key pieces of some civilizations.
Angier, Natalie. "The Changing American Family." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Nov. 2013. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
Marriage is the legal or formally recognized union of a man and a woman, or two people or the same sex as partners in a relationship. Marriage rates in the United States have changed drastically since the last 90’s and early 2000 years (Cherlin 2004). Marital decline perspective and marital resilience perspective are the two primary perspectives and which we believe are the results from the decline. The marital decline perspective is the view that the American culture has become increasingly individualistic and preoccupied with personal happiness (Amato, 2004). The change in attitudes has changed the meaning of marriage as a whole, from a formal institution
One of the results of this is the popularization of the process of divorce, or the legal dissolution of one’s marriage by a court. Today, ninety percent of people in Western culture marry before the age of fifty, but forty to fifty percent of these marriages are ending in divorce. On top of the increase in separations there is also a decrease in the amount of marriages, most likely due to increasing popularization of ideology that marriage is not for every single person, and support for different types of l...
In conclusion this paper has shown my perceptions on the described topics. I have identified why the family is considered the most important agent in socialization. I explained the dramatic changes to the American family and what caused them. I explained the differences in marriage and family. I expressed my feelings on the trend of diverse families, and how a change in trends to traditional views would change women’s rights.
Is the American family in really in crisis or is it just evolving at a more advanced rate than society? According to the sociologist, Michael Kimmel, “[t]hough the family feels like one of the most fragile of social institutions, it is also perhaps among the most resilient” (Kimmel 143). It seems fragile because of the decline of marriages rates, the increase in divorce rates, and the increase in cohabitating couples. However, the family is one of the most resilient social institutions, “able to adapt to changing economic, social, and cultural circumstances and remain the foundation of society” (Kimmel 142). Besides, statistics alone do not prove the failing condition of the American family.
In understanding others, one must first understand our own family background and how it affects our understanding of the world. Conversely, family systems draw on the view of the family as an emotional unit. Under system thinking, one evaluates the parts of the systems in relation to the whole meaning behavior becomes informed by and inseparable from the functioning of one’s family of origin. These ideas show that individuals have a hard time separating from the family and the network of relationships. With a deeper comprehension of the family of origin helps with the challenges and awareness of normalized human behaviors. When interviewing and analyzing the family of origin, allow one to look at their own family of origin
introduces us to several case studies that seem to be the main nucleus of family
Firstly, the beginning roots of one’s life among society starts with their family as agents of socialization. In this case, early on within our lives, a family is what gives individuals an introduction to the world around them in regards to language, values, norms, and beliefs. The entirety of babies and young children’s social circle only extends to their family at the early phases of their lives. Incidentally, variety begins within families as each family is unique with their perspectives on how to go on in life. To elaborate, sometimes one’s roots are settled within a large family or a small one, yet the socialization
The sudden socioeconomic transformation of the last century has substantially affected the tradition of marriage in modern society. Therefore, several alternatives to marriage have become available and grown to be more popular than marriage for today’s couples due to its suitability to current conditions. Some of these alternative statuses to marriage are cohabitation, divorce, or simply continuing to be single and this claim is supported through the findings of a recent study. The percentage of adults who are married has notably decreased from 1960 to 2008 by twenty percent (Pew Research Center). These statistics will not improve any time soon as “the average age at which men and women first marry is now the highest ever recorded” (Pew Research Center). These statistics may seem that society has lost a valuable part of life and the significance of two partners becoming one. However, from another perspective, it is a positive change in society where one or both partners do not lose their individuality and are equal, and are more accepting of other relationship choices.
Everyone seems to define family differently, however, the significance of family is the same. For you, family means everything. You can always count on your parents and siblings for help and love. Family is very valuable and important to you and should never be taken for granted. No one can deny that family is the foundation of our generation. A family is where we all start our life journey and helps us grow to be successful throughout our lives.
107). When it comes to culture and society, there are many differences and this can impact both a family and one’s marriage (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). In recent studies, evidence has shown that African American women have the lowest rate of marriage and Hispanic immigrant mothers have the highest (Hamilton & Hummer, 2010, p. 113). Results from data taken in a research project based on fragile families have shown the link of marriage tied to class (Hamilton & Hummer, 2010, p. 113). Within the United States, there are many individuals that will marry due to social class and personal choice (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). Marriage and families also start with the influence from elders and their beliefs (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). More specifically, marriages in the US are likely due to similarity within race, beliefs, class and morality (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). However, issues do arise when someone outside of the family’s norm tries to enter (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). Due to this personal choice, there can be a division amongst family members and a person’s married life (Kendall, 2014, p. 451). Another way in which a person selects a mate is based off of gender. As previously stated, this has been evolving over the years by having more same sex marriages (Kendall, 2014, p. 106). With as many different factors in today’s society, family and marriages can be linked in various
Everyone is born into some form of family, with the family taking the responsibility of nurturing, teaching the norms or accepted behaviors within the family structure and within society. There are many types of families, which can be described as a set of relationships including parents and children and can include anyone related by blood or adoption. Family is the most important, “for it is within the family that the child is first socialized to serve the needs of the society and not only its own needs” (Goode, 1982).
There are so many different types of family relationships. Whatever form a family takes; it is an important part of everyone’s life. My family has played an important role in my life. Good family relationships serve as a foundation to interactions with others. Supportive families will help children to thrive. The quality of the family relationship is more important than the size of the family. Making the relationships priority, communication, and providing support for one another is key to developing relationships. Family relationships are what make up our world today; they shape the ways that we see things and the ways that we do things.