A family
is the basic form of social interaction a human need to function properly in
society. The primary socialization responsibilities offered by a family teaches
individuals about the norms, beliefs and moral behavior expected of them. The
definition of family changes frequently, however, it may be defined as a group
of humans affiliated by blood relation, affinity or co-residence. Although many families share common traits, there are still many
differences between them. The concept of family may look simple, but it is
quite intricate in reality. Families today are divided into several categories
such as Nuclear, Single-Parent and Sibling family.
The
first kind of family mentioned was the nuclear family. Nuclear families are
considered the traditional form of family. It consists of a pair of parent and
their child or children. There are many advantages in being a part of a nuclear
family, such as environmental and behavioral stability, shared responsibilities
and physical and emotional support. The disadvantages of being a part of a
nuclear family are insignificant and can be fixed by good communication, trust,
and honesty.
The
second kind of family previously mentioned was the single-parent family.
Single-parent families are families that consist of a single mother or father
taking care of a child or children. In today’s society single-parenting has
become dominant and have both advantage and disadvantages. The advantages
include the parent bonding with the children without interference, the parent
gets to make all the decisions, and the parent will not have to care for
another adult. However, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. According to
a research done by University of Michigan, “children in single parent
households are at a greater risk of doing poorly in math and science. It is presumed that single parents have less time to spend in helping
their children with education and have lower economic resources than two-parent
homes.” Not only will their children suffer academically, but also emotionally.
Children in single-parent households tend to have lower self-confidence levels
and tend to have more behavioral problems. Much of this is due to less adult
supervision and less time for interaction between parent and children, which
will later escalate in delinquent acts by the child.
The
final kind of family mentioned was sibling family. This type of family is one
in which brothers and or sisters live together without parents, and the eldest
child manages the household. Being a part of a sibling family also has its
advantages with a considerable amount of disadvantage. These advantages are: They learn to co-operate and sympathize
with other people. The child learns the same type of language as his elder
siblings speak. They also learn manners and habits from their siblings. This is only if the age gap is wide. However,
if the age gap between elder and younger sibling is less than appropriate, then
this type of family will encounter these disadvantages: The Sibling is of a
young age and don't have enough experience to take care of a child, the older
sibling remain uneducated because they have to take care of their younger sibling
and if the older sibling is not grown up, then they cannot guide the younger
child properly.
The reason I have chosen these categories to
elaborate on is because I have been through all of these in their respective
order, nuclear, single-parent and sibling family. A family is one of the most
important institutions in today’s society, and a good family will result in a
better world. According to Genesis 2:24, “A man and a woman would form a one-flesh
union through marriage, and they with their children become a family, the
essential building block of human society.”
