What is a family?

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Assignment 1                SOCY100 | Introduction to Sociology | Essay | What is a family?


Assignment 1        SOCY100 | Introduction to Sociology | Essay | What is a family?


What is a family?

To define ‘a family’ is a challenging task with the term representing a vast range of notions to different people at different occasions. A legal definition of a family in Australia is characterised by a heterosexual couple or lone parent sharing residence with their genetic and non genetic children but fails to include same gender couples, families separated by physical distance or other families of choice (Poole 2011, 127), Cultural diversity adds ambiguity into the defining of a family with different societies placing a greater level of involvement to a broader group of kinship ties. For example, Indigenous communities often regard the raising of children as a whole community duty compared with parents in Westernised countries whom typically reserve the right to make the decisions on how they want to raise their own children. Many Asian cultures include extended family relatives when considering their intimate family with a heavy emphasis placed on children to care of their elders (Saggers & Sims 2004, 66). Another challenge for defining a family is apparent as we progress through different stages of life and our interpretation of what family we currently belong to is also evolving. For example, when a young couple is asked the question ‘do you have a family?’ it is fair to assume that the enquirer is more accurately curious as to whether or not they have children of their own. Conversely, when questioning a young child about their family they are likely to give a response detailing their parents and siblings (Baker 2001, 4-5).  To allow for a deeper introspect this essay will focus on the immediate family, specifically romantic partnerships with or without biological and non-biological children, living together or apart in modern Australian society.  Specifically it will investigate the demographic changes that have contributed to the diverse family compositions, the evolving roles and responsibilities of individual family members as a result of shifting society existences and will explore the diverse intimate relationships that exist between varying families        

Diverse family compositions

Until recent times, sociologists generally accepted the ‘nuclear family’, namely a heterosexual couple living together with their biological or adopted children, as standard in both a statistical and ethical sense (Baker 2001, 8-9). Demographic changes in Australia such as an aging population and lower fertility rates in conjunction with an altered perception of what is considered socially acceptable have contributed to the decline of this conventional family structure, resulting in a society comprised of families of increasing diversity (Poole 2011, 126-127). Whilst the nuclear family remains the predominant family structure in Australia, other family types are increasingly accepted and apparent including people living alone, cohabiting relationships and same sex couples (137-138).

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The diversity of what is considered a family is heightened when children are involved as it creates further family structure possibilities such as families headed by couples, lone parent families, families encompassing biological children and siblings, families comprised of non-biologically related people and families with no children at all.  The vast increase in divorce, remarriages and the forming of new partnerships in Australia heavily contributes to the creation of these family types and living situations often meaning children are spending less time living with their biological parents. These new circumstances include: blended families, existent when a family is comprised ...

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