Extended Definition of Family: Changes in Structure and Primary Importance

Your Name
Subject and Section
Professor’s Name
November 21, 2019
Extended Definition – The Family
           In most cases, the concept of the ‘Family’ is defined based on either its function, status, or structure relative to society. Specifically, some textbook definitions illustrate the family as a group of individuals consisting of the father and the mother, living under one roof and usually under one head (TheFreeDictionary.com). Yet, relying on these definitions could confuse for several reasons, such as (1) changes in the structure of the family and (2) primary importance is given to structure rather than importance. In line with this article, these two risks would be discussed in further detail in the succeeding sections by employing other terminologies that could be used to reach a more holistic, precise, and significant definition of the family. Nonetheless, I believe that focusing on the importance of the family in the development of individuals, then this concept at focus becomes easier to understand. 
 
Changes in the Structure of the Household
           As stated earlier, one of the ways in which a family is defined is based on the ‘traditional structure’ of the ideal family. In fact, textbook illustrations of children’s books would show the default structure of a household, which is composed of a father, mother, and child/children. However, this definition can lead to utter confusion since several families these days are either lacking or varying in nature. For example, several families only have the mother/father and the child/children, which usually happens in cases of households led by solo parents. Another example is households where there are two fathers or two mothers and their child/children, which can be observed when two couples from same-sex married each other and adopted a kid. 
           In light of this, it could be seen that definitions of the family should either adapt to these changes in structure or focus on another facet of the household. One good illustration of such would define the family as “a group of individuals, each of which having their functions, living together in a single roof and bound together by symbolic boundaries”. By using this extended definition, changes in structures (i.e., nuclear or extended) and gender roles (i.e., father, mother, child) could be taken into account.