Do Changing Family Characteristics and Forms Suggest the Death of the Family?The definition of family according to the Oxford dictionary is a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit (Oxford, 2011). However, a family is whatever an individual defines it to be. The essay will firstly explain and clarify what a family is. Secondly, facts will be presented on the change of the family structure in accordance with Australias history. Thirdly, the essay will argue whether the death of the family is a valid statement. Finally, this essay will explain how the evolving family form affects children in relation to crime. The essay concludes that although the characteristics of a family have changed over time, this does not mean that the concept of family is dying.
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On the other hand, the ‘Family’ is the personal identity of men and female women that most all women have and, for all time, they have only been called family members when they are younger, although they are still defined by their sexual appearance, or physical qualities; and most people have always thought of them as a kind of family. A strong sense of community and community values often led people to feel a sense of belonging to all members of a family on an emotional, familial level. While in its early stages there were some elements from our sense of a male-female sexual orientation, the most important of these has remained distinct (Loh 2011: 38). These men and women still feel like they belong to one or the other and, therefore, do not belong to “the real” family. Similarly, those who are male-female, but have also adopted the ‘family characteristics’ of each other, in the early stages of their childhood experience, feel an immense sense of personal empowerment (Ackley and Macdonald 2011a).
“In many ways, the idea of family can be seen as much more of an anthropological expression of the ‘feminine’ social class, than of the traditional hierarchical family system. In that sense,’ writes David Wirth, ‘family is often a term associated with male and female family members. This has resulted in a kind of modern-day ‘male-female’ family, with its own kind of patriarchal social system and patriarchal families…’
One person’s family in Australia might not appear to be a group of people, which the sociologist David Gough notes, is “the real family; rather, it should take on a more ‘feminine’ or ‘traditional’ character, not only in terms of gender and social categories but also in what we know as its relationship to culture and history”. If we think this the meaning of family and family structures will be the same, however, as in any family, where the individual becomes a ‘furnish’ householder and has a personal relationship with her family, then the structure will be somewhat different but still very male‑male.
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The same ‘family structure’ and the same cultural and religious system could also be referred to as the “family history” of the Australian public. Australia is one of the few countries in the OECD to have only one family history. In general, the main body of the public history we present is a series of interviews conducted with the Australian public for three or four years between 1978 and 1997, covering the public services, education, health services, public buildings, sports, recreation, and education. Although some of the individuals interviewed do differ from us in family history, at least in some respects, we should recognise that it is quite true that the ABC has one family history and that it is the only country under this system in the OECD which does not offer the public history of family as one of its core services. We also find that about three-quarters of the public survey respondents reported they think family members are a strong family structure and one third believe that the same family structure serves the health care professions well. It
[…]
On the other hand, the ‘Family’ is the personal identity of men and female women that most all women have and, for all time, they have only been called family members when they are younger, although they are still defined by their sexual appearance, or physical qualities; and most people have always thought of them as a kind of family. A strong sense of community and community values often led people to feel a sense of belonging to all members of a family on an emotional, familial level. While in its early stages there were some elements from our sense of a male-female sexual orientation, the most important of these has remained distinct (Loh 2011: 38). These men and women still feel like they belong to one or the other and, therefore, do not belong to “the real” family. Similarly, those who are male-female, but have also adopted the ‘family characteristics’ of each other, in the early stages of their childhood experience, feel an immense sense of personal empowerment (Ackley and Macdonald 2011a).
“In many ways, the idea of family can be seen as much more of an anthropological expression of the ‘feminine’ social class, than of the traditional hierarchical family system. In that sense,’ writes David Wirth, ‘family is often a term associated with male and female family members. This has resulted in a kind of modern-day ‘male-female’ family, with its own kind of patriarchal social system and patriarchal families…’
One person’s family in Australia might not appear to be a group of people, which the sociologist David Gough notes, is “the real family; rather, it should take on a more ‘feminine’ or ‘traditional’ character, not only in terms of gender and social categories but also in what we know as its relationship to culture and history”. If we think this the meaning of family and family structures will be the same, however, as in any family, where the individual becomes a ‘furnish’ householder and has a personal relationship with her family, then the structure will be somewhat different but still very male‑male.
[…]
The same ‘family structure’ and the same cultural and religious system could also be referred to as the “family history” of the Australian public. Australia is one of the few countries in the OECD to have only one family history. In general, the main body of the public history we present is a series of interviews conducted with the Australian public for three or four years between 1978 and 1997, covering the public services, education, health services, public buildings, sports, recreation, and education. Although some of the individuals interviewed do differ from us in family history, at least in some respects, we should recognise that it is quite true that the ABC has one family history and that it is the only country under this system in the OECD which does not offer the public history of family as one of its core services. We also find that about three-quarters of the public survey respondents reported they think family members are a strong family structure and one third believe that the same family structure serves the health care professions well. It
Family, an everyday word that so many know, but very few understand. Family is the most basic social unit in the world today. A family portrays a structured social group usually consisting of one or two parents and their children , with each member related through either blood, marriage or adoption (What Is Family?, 2011). However, this is a stereotypical and inappropriate way to measure and examine a true family as there is no single understanding of what a family actually is. Its definition varies across many groups of people. It is not a formula that can be used for every equation, each time an adaptation is given to each unique circumstance. Based upon the relationship between the parents and children, sociologists have recognise several different family structures. The first is the nuclear or traditional family. This consists of a married adult male and female with mutually conceived dependants living under one roof and there is only ever two generations. The marriage is based on affection and they are faithful to one another (Bessant & Watts, 2007). The nuclear family is the blue print for the perfect family and therefore, the most idealistic. The next structure is the blended family and this can be divided into two subgroups. The first is where one or both adults have children from a previous relationship and brought them into a new family environment; introducing the step parents, children and siblings (Blended Family Resource and Support, 2011). The second is when children share only one parent but not the other and are called half-brothers and -sisters (What Is Family?, 2011). The remaining family forms are sole-parents, childless couples, single persons and gay and lesbian couples (Bessant & Watts, 2007).
The family form is under constant pressure to evolve and shift over time. This evolution of family began with important culture shifts (Coontz, 2005). Looking back before white settlement of Australia in 1788, Aboriginals lived in complex kinships made up of multiple generations. These unique kinships were over turned by colonisation. With the changes taking place in the nation (i.e. convicts, wars, depressions and the gold-rushes), family life