Hansen 1

Emma Hansen

FHS 2400

Nielsen

3 November 2016

U1 Essay 1

Question: What is family? Identify three people (it would be best if both sexes

and a variety of ages were represented). Individually, ask each person to

define "What is a family?" Your paper should include your subjects gender,

marital status, and approximate age as well as their complete response to

the question. In addition to those three definitions, include your own

definition. Note: Most people will try to give "simple" answers. Encourage

them to give complete thoughtful answers.

Seeing as in the essay prompt it asks us to change names for privacy

reasons, when interviewing people I asked them what name they would like

me to use. Names have been chosen accordingly by those interviewed.

Unfortunately I was only able to interview 1 male, the rest were women so

there was not much variety in gender. Their answers still all varied greatly.

Generally they referred to the same characteristics and things that family is.

According to the textbook, Family is a unit of two or more people, of

which one or more may be children who are related by blood, marriage, or
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affiliation and who cooperate economically and may share a common

dwelling place. (Strong & Cohen, 2014, p. 552)

Trish, 37 and Married with 4 kids says Family is a constant, the people

who are always there when you need them. They are your biggest support

system.

Parry, 24 and in a relationship says that family is a group of loving

supportive people who guide and help you reach goals, keep you

accountable for your actions and love you unconditionally. Family is a support

network that has your best interest at heart and will/ should always be there

for you.

Nelly, 19 and single says that Family isn't defined only by last names

or blood. It is also defined by commitment and love. It means showing up

when they need it most. It means having each other's backs. It means

choosing to love each other even on those days when you struggle to like

each other. It means never giving up on each other because they're the only

ones never leaving. They're the ones that even if you don't like it, will always

have you on their mind and will always be there in the end. I mean, where

would you be without them?? Families are forever!

James, 25 and single says that family is a group of people who have

decided to love each other regardless of characteristics about their lives, its

a way of being in the world with a group of people that respect you and love

you no matter what.

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I personally can agree with all of these responses, I think that family is

very important. They get you through tough times and cheer you on through

the best. Your family are the people you dont want to let go of or lose and

when you do it is awful. I think that blood relatives can be family but they

dont have to be, close friends are family too. Ohana

Question 2: What are the different kinship roles - such as nephew, aunt or

uncle, in-law, grandson or granddaughter - that you play as a result of being

a member of your extended family? What rights and obligations does each

of these roles entail in your family? Do you have any fictive kin? How did

they become "like family"?

According to the textbook, a kinship system is The social organization

of the family conferring rights and obligations based on an individuals

status (Strong & Cohen, 2014, p. 554)

There are many different kinship roles; they all tie in to extended

family such as being a grandma, an aunt, a cousin, a sister, an uncle, a

grandpa, a brother, etc. I am a sister, a daughter, a cousin, a niece, and I

was a granddaughter. As any of the previously listed things, I have to be

responsible and take care of myself and my surroundings. I have many

fictive kin or family that is not related by blood or marriage. My siblings

best friends are like my older sisters, Parry and Sava both have taken me
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under their wings and have always been here for me and my whole family.

They are two of the many that I consider to be my sisters even though we

are not related. They are a very important part of my life.