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Definition of Family

This document summarizes Mary Anne Schwartz's definition of "family" from her book Marriage and Families. Schwartz defines family as "a relatively stable group of people bound by ties of blood, marriage, adoption, or by sexually expressive relationship; or who simply live together and who are committed to and provide each other with economical and emotional support." The author notes that Schwartz's definition allows for inclusion of families formed by adoption, sexual relationships, or simply living together and providing support, beyond the traditional conception of families formed by blood or marriage. However, the definition is also confusing because it is very inclusive and leaves room for ambiguity.

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489 views

Definition of Family

This document summarizes Mary Anne Schwartz's definition of "family" from her book Marriage and Families. Schwartz defines family as "a relatively stable group of people bound by ties of blood, marriage, adoption, or by sexually expressive relationship; or who simply live together and who are committed to and provide each other with economical and emotional support." The author notes that Schwartz's definition allows for inclusion of families formed by adoption, sexual relationships, or simply living together and providing support, beyond the traditional conception of families formed by blood or marriage. However, the definition is also confusing because it is very inclusive and leaves room for ambiguity.

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Emma Schmeeckle

Je Tatum

Sociology of Families

9/12/2014

What Is Family to Everyone?

The definition of the word family is interchangeable from person to person based on

individual walks of life. However, author Mary Anne Schwartz defines family with such
certainty in her book Marriage and Families. Schwartz defines family as a relatively stable
group of people bound by ties of blood, marriage, adoption, or by sexually expressive
relationship; or who simply live together and who are committed to and provide each other with
economical and emotional support (5). The definition of family is a term that can be loosely or
tightly used to define the people with whom an individual shares life experiences with.

The definition of family can be a dicult term to define with specificity. The beginning of

the definition used by Schwartz states a family as a relatively stable group of people
explaining that imperfect coexistence is normal and suggesting that perfect coexistence is not
necessary for a family. The next chunk of Schwartzs definition follows to say bound by ties of
blood, marriage, adoption, or by sexual expressive relationship[.] This is particularly interesting
considering most people think of family as bound most often by blood and marriage and not
too often people think of family by way of adoption or as a sexually expressive relationship.
Schwartz allows the inclusion of those who are committed to each other and live together as a
family because these individuals provide each other with economical and emotional support,
as would a group of people who we would consider to be a family by popular conception. The
second part of the definition given by Schwartz states that a family can also be defined as
people who simply live together and who are committed to and prove each other with
economical and emotional support. Schwartz is referring to individuals that live together and
provide people with that support, but also have children with each other.

There are quite a few popular conceptions about family that include parents and

siblings, friends and teammates. One popular conception about family is that it is limited to
parent(s) and sibling(s), bound by blood or adoption and share a single household. For other
cultures many times the term family may also include the extended family such as
grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Some may also consider a family
to be those who you live with in regards to the confines of a house or shared space where
relations by blood are not necessary. Many may also consider family to be a sports team, and
individual or group of people unrelated biologically or lawfully but through hard work and
encouragement and have played an important part in the forming of ones being. Though all
three popular conceptions of family are not necessarily relating individuals in a family by blood,
it allows for a family-like bond though emotional and economical support.

In each situation, the people with who an individual associates with act as a line of

support. However it is not quite that simple to define family. Schwartzs definition of family,
aside from popular conception, allows for the inclusion of individuals under one roof whether it
be by blood or choice, those by sexual relationships, and people who rely economically and
emotionally on each other.

Schwartzs definition of the word family is something that is understandable, but

confusing at the same time. The very first lecture for Sociology of Families it was stated that
there had to be a way of exclusivity for defining the term family, and Schwartzs definition seem
to be very inclusive. However, it also allows for ambiguity when speaking on the topic by
leaving it open to some interpretation.

Word Count: 608

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