Marriage and Family
Family Definition Assignment
1. Who is a member of your family? Why do you consider those people to be family members? Why other people you associate with are not considered to be part of your family?
The people who are my family are my husband, my children, my mother, my father, my sister and my two brothers. I consider them my family because they are the only people that I can rely on when I need anything at all. I can call or come to their house at any time and they will assist me with whatever I need, they are also the people I do the same for. We also get together at least once a week at my house for dinner, sometimes my mom will make a dish to bring also. We eat together then usually will watch a movie my mom picks up from a Red Box on her trip over, it’s been a routine we have done for quite a few years. I am not as close with any other extended family members. I’m not sure why that is, I grew up this way and it has just remained that way.
2. How would you define the word “family”? How does the textbook define family? Compare and contrast your personal definition with the textbook definition.
I define family as people who are related to you by either marriage or blood bonds. Family may also consist of someone you’ve been close to for many years even though they are not related or someone you love and care for deeply, someone who is there for you when needed. Someone you take care of, maybe even a child who isn’t related to you that you may babysit, but you feel they are your family member because you have a great care and love for them. Our text indicates two definitions of family, the “public family” which is about caretaking and dependency and the “private family” which is about nurturing, intimacy emotional support and love. I think my definition can be compared to the private family more, which makes sense, I feel that I am more from a private family than a public family. Both describe