Anthropology: Family is a Social Construct not a Biological one.

The term “blood is thicker than water” refers to the bond and connection between members of families, which is generally stronger than the connection between unrelated people such as; friends, team members and members of tribes. The idea of blood being thicker than water cannot indeed be completely argued unless the concept “blood” referring to family and “water” referring to unrelated people is deeply explored (Jordan et al., 1994).

The concept of blood referring to family is generally the idea of those family members that are biologically connected by birth, marriage or adoption (Gottfried & Gottfried, 1994). This connection creates a strong bond between these members, and in reality, it is also said that love is the key that inspires people to connect and bond.

The definition of family is very broad. Some people are members of families that are only connected by blood. On the other hand, others have different experiences. For instance, a family can be connected not only by blood, but also love. In a scenario where a family adopts a child, the bond is created emotionally. This means that the definition of family is only valid depending on people’s beliefs (Steinmetz, 1988).

Some members of today’s society believe that families are not only those members that are truly connected by blood, but also the people one grows up with and are chosen to be in one’s life. This scenario refers to water meaning the relationship between unrelated people. For instance; friendship is classified as water based relationship (Gottfried & Gottfried, 1994).

While there may be little difference between a family member who is truly blood related and another who may have joined the family through marriage or adoption, one crucial difference is evident. This is the construct of choice. Being born into a family means that you are a part of it without choice. The choice of whether or not your parents disown you or vice-verse is made afterwards. With someone who is not blood related, that person joins your family through choice, namely marriage or adoption.

Often family members have abusive inclinations or substance abuse problems that can result in the disintegration of the family structure entirely (Jordan et al., 1994). The choice of whether or not to remain in this family is always available to a person regardless of whether or not that person joined the family out of choice or was born into it.

In conclusion, by observing the dynamics of the process of family formations, one can see that blood is not always thicker than water. People receive crucial support from people that are not blood related. Some people even have allegiances to non-blood related individuals that are stronger than blood related individuals.

References:

· Family and Support Systems Across the Life Span. Steinmetz, SK (Ed), 1988, Plenum Press

· Putting the Family First: Identities, Decisions, Citizenship. Jordan, B., Redley, M., James, S., 1994, UCL Press

· Redefining Families: Implications for Children’s Development. Gottfried, AE., Gottfried, AW. (Ed), 1994, Plenum Press

· Extending Families: The Social Networks of Parents and Their Children, Cochran, M., Larner, M., Riley, D., Gunnarsson, L., Henderson, CR Jr. 1990, Cambridge Press.

· The Death of the Hired Man, Frost, R., 1915