Family is a word that often has different definitions depending on an individual. People define family in different ways, depending on what belonging to a family means to them. Families differ economically, culturally, and socially but all families have a common thing that is the importance of individuals in the family. Family can be defined as a basic social group that normally consists of parents and children, whether biological or adopted. This is just a basic definition since this definition does not capture different family structures in the modern world. I believe that a family is a social group with two or more individuals who have similar goals and values and an abiding commitment to each other and comes from a similar background. This definition covers the vast majority of individuals in modern society. A family does not necessarily need to have biologically related individuals but can consist of friends and partners.
In modern society, the traditional perspective of the family is vanishing and being replaced by modern structures. Initially, having blood relationships defined family, although nowadays, it is defined by the relationship between individuals. Most people consider friends as a family due to a close relationship and deeper connection compared to family members. People without blood relatives may recreate families using friends with common goals and interests to replace the non-existent family structure. Friends also become part of the extended or nuclear family, and they are considered as the secondary family of an individual.
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Many individuals do not think that families have a culture. Cultural diversity is often associated with countries, races, and ethnic groups. However, for most people, a family is just a social group of related people normalized to doing what they always do. Culture involves the way people think, feel judge, or act (Ross, 2018) . According to Ross (2018), individuals in a family are modeled by their family culture. For children, assumptions about what is good or bad often show the values, traditions, and beliefs of a family. These influences may change as individuals meet new people, but some attributes may have a long-lasting effect on an individual's way of life. Families in different parts of the world have different cultures depending on the organization and members of the family members. The cultures are influenced by the norms of the families of what is right and wrong. These norms define how members of the family behave and act.
Depending on the region of origin, family members have different roles. Unlike democracies, families have their criteria for deciding the roles of every individual. These roles define the rights, responsibilities, and privileges that individuals have in their family. In a typical nuclear family, parents act as the executives of the family, setting the rules and allocating tasks to children. They also act as the sole providers for their children by providing all basic needs and other necessities to their children. In addition, they act as guides to their children by setting standards of what is considered good or bad (Healthy Children, 2015) . Children are expected to follow the guidelines of their parents. Being rebellious may cause conflicts between children and parents. As children develop, they are given more responsibility and permission to make decisions based on their interests as long as they do not do the wrong things. Regardless of this, pare nts have the ultimate authority over their children until they become adults.
These roles are common to many cultures across the world, where parents are considered family leaders. However, some cultures maintain the traditional definition of families when it comes to roles. In such kind of families, men or husbands are considered to have the ultimate authority in the family and make decisions. In these cultures, women are second in command, although their sons may overtake them after a certain age. These roles have defined the perception of the family towards women and men. In most cases, men are the breadwinners in families, although this is changing with the rise of civilization and modernization. A good example is India, where women never worked, but their husbands were the breadwinners, although this trend is changing (Carrim, 2016) . In most cultures, children follow the guidelines by parents, although this depends on gender roles, where boys are not expected to perform 'girlish' roles and vice versa. In modern families, the parents have equal authority over their children, while children are expected to perform tasks assigned by parents without regard for gender stereotypes.
Many definitions can be derived to incorporate all family traditional and modern family structures. Family can be defined beyond the bloodlines, surnames, and obligations; this constitutes the traditional definition of family. Family can incorporate people in an individual's life who commit, sacrifice, and support them unconditionally. It should not be a question of birthright but a personal choice based on care, kindness, and understanding that helps individuals thrive both personally and professionally. This differs slightly with my understanding of family as I believe that family members should come from a similar place. However, it agrees with my understanding that people in a family should love and support each other unconditionally.
Different people have different understandings of family. Interacting with people with different perceptions of family or any other issue is challenging. Interacting with them would require identifying a common ground between us and exploiting it. This involves understanding their different perception, understanding it, and embracing it rather than being against it. This helps to create a common ground, which helps prevent potential conflict.
References
Carrim, N. M. (2016). Gender and Cultural Identity Work of Unmarried Indian Breadwinner Daughters in South Africa. Journal of Comparative Family Studies , 441-462. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/44109639?seq=1
Healthy Children . (2015, November 21). Retrieved from Family Life Website: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Roles-Within-the-Family.aspx
Ross, N. (2018, May 25). Council on Foundations . Retrieved from Council on Foundations Website: https://www.cof.org/content/effects-family-culture-family-foundations
