How I Define My Own Family
Defining My Own Family
Family is defined as those who descend from a common ancestor. However, I would argue that a family is much more than that. Family can be really anything. A family has a great range of what it could be. For example, a family could be: a husband, wife and their kids, a sports team, and even a man and his dog could be a family. When I was growing up I always had at least one dog and I would never consider my dogs anything other than a family member. I also consider my extended family as a a part of my family. My cousins are my best friends and we spent countless hours together as kids. Therefore, my aunts and uncles played a large role in raising me in addition to my own parents.
Why I Define A Family Like This
The reason that I say that a family is such a broad thing is because many different people will define a family in many different ways. No two people will define a family in exactly the same as it pertains to them individually. I would also define a sports team as a type of a family. At Emory I am a member of the varsity swim and dive team, and many of my teammates, past and present, I would consider to be like my family. We spend countless hours a year practicing, in the weight room, and doing outside activities. In fact, during my college years, I have spent more time with my teammates, than I have with my actual family. The definition of a family ignores many facets of what it means to be in a family. For example, by definition, if two parents adopted a child they would not be considered a part of their family because they do not descend from a common ancestor. This proves my point that it is nearly impossible to define a family completely. A family, in my opinion, is what you make of it.
Sociology of My Family 