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Running Head: U1 ESSAY 1

Betty Le
FHS 2400
U1 Essay 1
06/19/2015

Running Head: U1 ESSAY 1

OPTION A: WHAT IS A 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.
Although the Census Bureau clearly defines family as a group of two or
more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together in
a household (Strong and Cohen, 2014), such a simple definition has much
more depth in what a person considers family and how it actually means to
each and every individual.
Jeff/ Male/ Single/ Age 20
Its an abstract view. I have a lot of family. Everyone on my dads side I
havent seen in 6 years. I dont necessarily consider them family. Family
would be people who have an actual effect on you. I have a step family, but I
consider them family even though I have only known them for 4 years. They
influence and relate to me. You can view family as a biological way, and have

Running Head: U1 ESSAY 1

genetic similarities. They contribute to the way I learn and view how I should
live my life.
Ipi/ Female/ In a relationship/ Age 21
I feel like family is a bond that you create with someone. I have
biological family that I do not consider family because they werent there for
the good and hard times. There isnt a real connection. There isnt that trust
that you can rely on them as you would think you would have with family. I
consider Lagi my coworker family because shes there for me any time I need
her. She makes sure Im taken care of and I do the same for her. There is
loyalty in what I consider family. They pull through and there is that saying
you here about being loyal to family. Loyalty for me is when you need the
truth not just what you want to hear. They are consistent in what they say
and are just there. Checking up on you and not just when they want
something.
Paul/ Male/ Single/ Age 45
I feel like family are the people who you make your family. Families are
the people who you connect with, trust, and share your feelings with. We are
all busy sometimes and cant be physically as close to people as much as we
want to, but we still can feel close to someone regardless. I am a busy
person and I cant be there as much as I want to, but I know that if anyone
that I consider family needed me, I would do what I could to give them what

Running Head: U1 ESSAY 1

they need. Despite the many miles and distances we physically are apart
from each other, we can still feel super close to someone.
Betty (myself)/ Female/ In a relationship/ Age 24
I believe that everyone has two families. There is the biological family
in which you share the genetic bond with. Sometimes you can have close
relationships with these people, and sometimes you dont. You dont get to
choose your biological family. The second type of family we have is our
spiritual family. Our spiritual families are those who we connect with on a
deeper level where we feel as if we have known them our whole lives. They
understand us, they love as, and treat us as family. We often hear the phrase
brother from another mother, or sister from another mister and to me its
true. I believe each person has a soul in which either from a past live weve
had a connection, or somehow our souls are kindred spirits. We can choose
who we want in our spiritual family, and decide whether or not to continue to
hold onto that bond. There isnt a biological attachment, but there is still a
spiritual connection nonetheless.
When we think of the traditional, nuclear family, we automatically think
of a family that consists of a mother, father, and children (Strong and Cohen,
2014). When we really stop and think who we actually have in our family, the
people who we consider family are truly unconventional. Doing the
interviews, we recognize that even though the Census Bureau must define it
in a way it can calculate the population, it truly isnt asking us who we

Running Head: U1 ESSAY 1

consider family. That is not its purpose. If you ask for understanding, family is
who we believe is family.

Running Head: U1 ESSAY 1

References

Strong, B., & Cohen, T. (2014). The Marriage and Family Experience: Intimate
Relationships in a
Wadsworth.

Changing Society (12th ed.). Belmont, California: