Family Feud

From the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch, Lilo and her older sister had a mantra that stated “Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind”. In an article I read, family was described as an emotional connection between a collective of individuals. In society family has various meanings. One may describe a family member as loyal, and others may use the word love to describe the relationship. Over time there has been a reformation of the value and definition of what makes or defines a family.

In Genesis we see God create the world in seven days. In that seven days he creates animals, and he creates Adam to tend to those animals. In the same narrative, woman is made from dust but rooted in being the male counterpart, or his rib. Adam and Eve marry and that creates the husband-and-wife dynamic for the world. Eve being the female bears children from the seed of Adam creating the first bloodline of descendants, Cain and Abel. We all know Cain kills Abel and Seth and that breeds the first inner family betrayal, and result in creation of Seth. Based on the beginning of time we have an example of what a mother, father, and children are but there’s no clear guidance on the actions needed for each role.

In society one can quickly notice the difference in values per the generations. The eldest generation believes the only way to exist is via the old ways. No shacking, no procreating out of wedlock, abstaining from sexual encounters unless married and other values still hold weight for individuals born of the civil rights ages. The next generation, their children, held the standards but I believe this is where things got “strange”. Some people grew up and realized they didn’t want to pass down the same teachings, so they possibly instilled these beliefs in their children but showed them a different way to uphold that belief. I believe that is how we have gotten to the state of being we’re in now. As for the current generation, we’re trying to understand the balance between what’s tradition been and what feels right within our being.

All in all, we’re in this evolutionary age where people can decide what these things mean to them. Much like in the first bloodline, families go through betrayal all the time and certain individuals feel more comfortable removing themselves versus faking a connection. One is aware that doesn’t disqualify them from genetic connection but physically they acknowledge the disconnect between one another, and that is okay! Family is very important, but if you feel more peaceful without them; that’s even more important.

Marriage and family hold the role of providing the foundation for life. These entities hold your identity and they either make or break your existence. The most basic understanding of these roles rose from the biblical belief that man and woman were created to reproduce. Others may believe we have evolved from the existence of animals. I personally believe both theories can coexist together.

In an article I read, the article spoke on the value of marriage and family is lessening. I’d disagree, but I do agree that the definition or value we put into these words are changing. Sociologists define marriage as a contracted union between two individuals, regardless gender. They describe family in a similar context, but they added that a family is bonded through the emotional aspects of life. The article mentioned that there are various types of marriages as well as family types. There are homosexual and heterosexual marriages, where some people prefer the same sex compared to the normal opposite sex relationships. One could also participate in polygamy, where there are more than the two individuals. Lastly, there is common law marriage. Common law marriage can be described as two individuals being one for so long it becomes “understood” without taking legal action.

In this same article, the author spoke on the difference between family structures as well. In the modern days we see various dynamics of what it means to be family. From the survey mentioned in the article, many adults agreed that a family isn’t complete until a child is added. Some people felt that a family could be described as a female and her male spouse and their child being a pet. Other participants felt a family didn’t have to consist of the traditional male and female dynamic, that families could still exist within same-sex cultures. They also spoke on how families can be created from the process of adoption. Adoption can happen in or for various reason. Some women can’t conceive so they must adopt, and in some cases, women get pregnant with no desire to have the baby nor terminate it.

For me, marriage is the bonding of two souls that commit to long term life obstacles, whether legally bonded or not. I also believe a family can be breed from multiple sources other than the combination of sperm and egg. Some people go through life realizing their family is not anyone close to them, but their family is in the faces of strangers. Life with multiple participants could get confusing, especially when it comes to adding children, for the family aspect but it would help take care of a luxury lifestyle. They say, “sharing is caring”. Family and marriage are what you make it, I appreciate the fact we’re getting out of tradition and allowing people to own whatever path makes them happy.

Sourced from:

Learning, L. (n.d.). Introduction to sociology. Lumen. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/what-is-marriage-what-is-a-family/.

Coogan, M. D. (2018). The new Oxford annotated Bible: New revised standard version, with the Apocrypha: An Ecumenical study bible. Oxford University Press.