Understanding Families -CLASS #1 MODULE #1 PP Study Slides

First Class-talking about definitions of family what is a family?

There are legal definitions, social definitions, intentional families and personal definitions of what it means to be family

A family is commonly understood as a group of individuals who share legal, social, or emotional ties, and the concept can vary greatly in interpretation, emphasizing personal connections and the intention behind relationships.

Nuclear VERSUS Modern Family

“A nuclear family is a family unit comprised of a married heterosexual, cisgender couple and
their children. The nuclear family has been the dominant family structure in Western societies for centuries and is often seen as the ideal family unit. A modern family, however, encompasses diverse structures, including single-parent families, same-sex couples, blended families, and cohabiting arrangements.

Important Note about Nuclear Family

This definition excludes millions of families that are outside of this box.

Example: compare to traditions of non-western societies such as Asian cultures where extended family live together and support each other AND their Elders through their whole lives

In Summary

Families can look very different!