Sera Nilsson

Marriage and Family Relations

11:30-12:50
Essay #2
Family
What is family? Who is considered family? There are many different
examples, opinions, and definitions of what family is. For example in the textbook
The Marriage and Family Experience by Bryan Strong and Theodore F. Cohen it
states a family is a unit of two or more people, of which one or more may be
children who are related by blood, marriage, or affiliation and who cooperate
economically and may share a common dwelling place (552). Is this what family is?
How do we really know? The way I look at it is there is no correct or no right way to
define a family. Families are developed and based off of closeness, and stability,
history, morals, etc. Although, often times families will have similarities, no family
is exactly alike. To prove this I have interviewed 3 different people, of different ages,
have a different family background, and are different genders. I will also include my
own opinion of what I believe family is.
First I interviewed RaeLynn Patterson. RaeLynn is 68 years old, and
female. She was raised by a mother and father. She has 2 older brothers. She has
been married 4 times. Has 6 children, and 11 grandchildren. When interviewing
RaeLynn I asked what is family, and who do you consider family? Her response was
A group of people who are close, but dont always get along, not necessarily blood
related, but they love one another unconditionally. I consider my husband, children,
grandkids, aunts, uncles, in-laws, brothers, nephews, nieces, and parents family. I
then read of examples of families and asked her whether or not she considered it a
family. See Figure 1. She believed that #8 was not a family, because in order to
be a family you should live together, she also added unless one of them was
active in the military or something then thats reasonable. She then did not agree
with example #9. She believes that you have to be either blood related or married
into a family. And finally she didnt agree with example #11. RaeLynn believes you
should only have one significant other.
Next I interviewed Suzannah Nilsson. Suzannah is 38 years old, and
female. Growing up her parents divorced, and re-married. She has 8 siblings. She is
a single mother of 2 children. Just as before I asked Suzannah the same questions I
asked RaeLynn. What is family, and who do you consider family? Her response was
Family are people who love and support you. I consider my mother, father,
children, best friend, aunts, uncles, grandparents, in-laws, siblings, and cousins
family. I then read her the same examples. Suzannah didnt agree believe example
#8 was family. She said A family should be under one roof together. And then she
disagreed with example #11. She said you should live under one roof.
Next I interviewed Zachary Helm. Zachary is 13 years old, and male.
He is raised by a single mother. His parents are separated. He has 3 siblings, one

being deceased. Once again I asked Zachary the same questions. What is family,
and who do you consider family? His response A family is people who care about
me and make me feel safe and happy, people that are always there for you. My
family is mom, dad, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers, grandparents, and cousins. As
far as the examples Zachary didnt agree with example #4. He said they dont have
any husbands, children, or parents. He didnt agree with example #8. He said a
true family needs to be together. He then didnt agree with example #9. He said
they are not legally family. And finally he didnt agree with example #11. He
believes you can only have 1 wife.
Finally, myself. I am 20 years old, and female. I am married. I was
raised by a single mother and have 1 sibling. I believe family is people who are
always there for you, who support and encourage you. People who drive you insane
at times, yet you know you couldnt live without them. I consider my mother, sister,
husband, in-law, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends all family.
As far as the examples the only example I disagreed with was example #11. I just
believe that you should only have one significant other. As you can see overall these
different interviewees had similarities in their opinions of family, but they also had
things that differentiated them. I believe there is no real answer to the question
what is family.

Figure 1: