Family Matters.  No, not the sitcom from the 90’s which highlighted the mishaps of the Winslow family and their nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel who would nasally utter, “Did I do that?”  Family matters (verb, not noun).  In other words, families are important.  Many sociologists describe families as the building blocks of society for good reason.  Families emphasize the fundamental role they play in shaping and sustaining societies.  Just as building blocks form the foundation of a structure, families provide the essential framework for social development and stability.

Families are the basic units of society.  They are where individuals are born, raised, nurtured, and socialized.  Families provide the initial environment for socialization and where values, norms and beliefs are transmitted from one generation to the next.  What is critical in the concept of family is “cohesion” or the emotional bonding the individual family members have for one another.  Whether that bonding is disengagement or enmeshment (or anywhere in between), the level of cohesion has a dramatic impact on the individuals within the family unit.

The famous English poet, John Donne, penned the words in his sonnet, “No man is an island” which underscores the interconnectedness of humanity.  Allow me to extrapolate his words to: No family is an island, meaning the family unit interacts with other families/entities to form neighborhoods, counties, states and nations.  Again, cohesion comes into play as families build solidarity with others through community activities, volunteerism, and civic engagement which directly results in the overall well-being of society.  This cohesion culminates in the adoption of standards/laws intended to uphold the societal norms and contribute to a sense of social order and stability in their communities.

Therefore, family serves as the foundation upon which societies are built, providing essential functions that contribute to individual development, social cohesion, and overall societal well-being.  Thus, viewing families as the building blocks of society underscores their central importance in shaping the fabric of human civilization.

What’s your thoughts on the matter? Let me know if this resonates with your philosophy or practice. I look forward to reading your responses.