Function of the family the importance of parents in a Society
Functionof the family: the importance of parents in a Society
Therelationship and mutual interdependence in the society is directlycorrelated to the functional and unity role played by the
Function of the family the importance of parents in a Society
Functionof the family: the importance of parents in a Society
Therelationship and mutual interdependence in the society is directlycorrelated to the functional and unity role played by the family.Family is the basic component unit of any society and performsvarious functions that are essential for the wellbeing of all membersin the society. Basically the family plays a significant role innurturing individuals to become socially acceptable and responsiblemembers in regard to set norms, beliefs and cultures. As such thefamily provides psychological growth, affection, care and acts as aguide to individuals. Traditionally, families played significantroles in socializing individuals in community values, customs andcultural beliefs (Lorraine, 1959 pg 135). The family serves as animportant element in the transfer of social values, education andsocializing individuals into social beings by shaping theirpersonality. The importance of family can not therefore, be dismissedparticularly the role of parents in shaping relationships within thefamily and the society.
Thebook, “The Achievement of Desire”, presents a poor boy from aLatino family who struggles to fit in the American culture. Hisparents and nuns encouraged him to study hard for his educationsuccess. However, as he got more educated the gap between him and hisculture widened to the point of not understanding his home and familylife. As he later realized, most of the things taught in School didnot match his parents’ lessons of real life the School taught himhow to be reflexive and think rather than following his parentslessons which emphasis on wisdom.
Parentsplays significant role in socializing their children on importantvalues about life which other institutions can not teach. Thispromotes close relationships between children and their parents basedon shared values(Rodriguez 1982, pg 123).This is evident from Rodriguez assimilation in the American educationand culture which distances him from his family ties. As he pursededucation and matured, he realized that the close relationship thathad existed between him and his parents had been cut off onlyreaching emotions surfaces ‘Ikept so much, so often, to myself. Sad…. Enthusiastic’.The school life socialized Rodriguez in idolizing his teachersinstead of his parents a situation that was worsened by rapid lossof cultural identity by his parents. This situation illuminates theessential role parents have in maintaining relationships with theirchildren by constantly guiding and reminding their children aboutimportant cultural and family values.
Familyrelationships and traditions provide greater happiness thanindividual success despite his learned nature, Rodriguez felt lostand regretted abandoning his family. Families serve important part indeveloping individuals’ personality and promoting sense of selfbelonging. In addition, parents and family in general is essential inshaping the personality of individuals and how they perceive externalissues. For instance, despite all education Rodriguez got fromschool, he was unable to understand meaning and give opinions onideas of others his opinions were superficial and reflected views ofothers ‘hewas a scholarship boy, never adequate, always anxious to learn butuncreative’ (Rodriguez1982, pg 93).
Parentsin family are essential in creating a sense of belonging toindividuals within the society. They guide individuals in livingwithin the socially acceptable cultural values which in turn helpsindividuals feel comfortable. However, in the case of Rodriguez questto change his cultural links through education he began to feelnostalgic and unable to relate with fellow scholars. The bond betweenhim and other scholars was bound on a frail common scholarship andnot mutual relations which made him long for family relations. Thisis depicted at the British Museum where he listened to Spanishscholars conversing and he began to long for family relations. Thisshows that despite education and meeting other people, family tiesare important in helping individuals integrate in the society andhave a feeling of belonging.
Rodriguezstruggles with education and family life in where he suffers loss,loneliness, confusion and nostalgia. These scenarios illustrates manycases in life where family ties are broken by individuals as theyperuse career goals which leads them to ‘social imagination’individuals inner realization on the needs for inner life andexternal career. It is therefore, evident that family relations areimportant in providing company, sense of belonging, direction andpsychological support (Rodriguez1982, pg 15).
“Somepeople build fences to keep people out and other people build fencesto keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you."
Inthe play ‘Fences’ we see a family based on sharing where Troy,struggles to provide for his family through his driving work. As thehead of the family, Troy’s also tries to guide his children thisis seen when he refuses his son join college football. According tothe father he does not want his son face racial discrimination likehe experienced in his youth days this makes the father appear as notloving to his son. Parents are important guides in defining relationsof family members and the society they guide and shape childrenrelations in the e