Family as a Treshold Concept
Family as a Treshold Concept
The concept of family functions as a basic institution inside the social fabric of human civilizations, embodying a nexus of biological, cultural, and legal relationships that together determine individual identities, affiliations, and interactions. This basic unit of social organisation surpasses geographic, chronological, and ideological barriers, taking many forms throughout cultures, eras, and socio-political circumstances.
The definition of family, as articulated by scholars, reflects its multifaceted nature and evolving societal constructs. A family is a group of persons directly linked by kin connections, the adult members for which assume responsibility for caring for children. (Giddens, 1993a, p.370). In addition, Stephanie Coontz contends that family configurations are subject to historical contingencies claiming that "family is a constantly changing social institution that has been buffeted by the same winds of change that have shaped and transformed so many other aspects of modern life" (Coontz, 1992, p. 3). These expert opinions agree that the definition of family is dependent on a wide range of characteristics, including not only biological or legal relationships, but also shared housing, economic cooperation, emotional bonds, and mutual support networks.
However, according to me, family is a close-knit group of people who share deep emotional bonds, mutual respect, and unshakable support. It extends beyond biological or legal ties, encompassing chosen relationships and kindred spirits who enrich our lives. In today's world, the definition of family has evolved to reflect the diverse and dynamic nature of human relationships. The modern definition of family includes not just immediate relatives, but also chosen family, intimate friends, and supportive communities, as well as loving pets and adopted children.
Having chosen the concept of family, this concept holds significance for my learner of grade 6th grade studying in an ICSE board. he idea of "family" emerges as a particularly effective threshold concept for Middle Years Programme (MYP) students due to its multi-dimensional nature, which includes cultural, social, psychological, and ethical components. he idea of "family" emerges as a particularly effective threshold concept for Middle Years Programme (MYP) students due to its multi-dimensional nature, which includes cultural, social, psychological, and ethical components. Students are urged to investigate the sociological, legal, and cultural aspects that affect how family units are defined and acknowledged (Lapp, 2016). Students develop understanding of the challenges, benefits, and responsibilities that come with ranging familial arrangement as they explore the numerous types of families, including nuclear, extended, blended, and non-traditional families (Bartolo & De Feo, 2018).
However, A learner can profit greatly from the inclusion of the notion of "family" as a threshold concept in their education. In order to foster a greater comprehension of various cultural, societal, and personal views, this choice offers a transforming learning experience (Meyer & Land, 2003).
Traditionally, the concept of family has been associated with blood connections, which indicate a biological bond between individuals. However, in recent years, the definition of family has expanded to include partnerships that are not genetically related .The purpose of this essay is to explain learner the significance of learning about family as a threshold concept. Non-blood ties have a major impact on an individual's emotional, psychological, and social development, according to this viewpoint. Furthermore, it emphasises individuals' liberty in actively shaping their familial networks, creating a sense of belonging and interconnectedness beyond biological kinship. The knowledge gained after learning family as a threshold concept broadens ones social environment. Students gain more deeper understanding of a family which include not only their biological kin but also chosen family members. In essence, acquiring these abilities and dispositions provides learners with a complete framework for navigating the diverse terrain of human relationships and societal system.
The knowledge of the family has societal diversity that includes nuclear, extended as well as single parent. Family plays role in providing emotional support, education, financial stability, and caregiving. All the individuals must have the ability to understand and respect diverse family experiences while acknowledging that there is no one definition of family.
This essay dives into the concept of family beyond blood links, based on the ancient Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, which argues for the world as one family. This is my attempt, using a thorough review of scholarly literature to prove significance of non-biological family ties and their relevance in today's world. Green, 2017 cited in A "family is not solely a matter of genetics but also a product of social and emotional connections." However ,now the viewpoint is changing, regardless of biological links, this revised term includes relationships formed through mutual understanding, support, and love.
According to research, those who establish strong relationships outside of blood ties have better mental and emotional health (Smith et al., 2020). This emphasises the importance of chosen families in modern culture. Wilson (2021) argues that these relationships contribute to the development of cultural competency, tolerance, and a larger worldview. In the majority of adoptions, the family is formed in both the psychological and legal dimensions, with no consanguineal ties between the parents and the kid. Some authors have defined adoption kinship as similar to affinal or married kinship (Logan 2013).
The study of the "family" element contributes to the development of existing ideological and moral education, according to one of the PEP textbooks titled "Morality and Life (Society)"(Liu, 2004).
Based on this literature, I understood that the concept of family as a whole has transcended strereotypes and brought them into the profound knowledge. A sophisticated view of family as a dynamic, growing construct encourages us to rethink engrained assumptions and embrace a more inclusive, sympathetic perspective, just as a threshold concept challenges our prejudices andpromotes intellectual growth. I believe that family opens a door to the greater understanding of relationships that shape our life, also it encourages us to deal with the challenges of human connection with awareness.
