Family Identity

Family and Belonging as an Identity

Although there exist many different types of the conceivable notion of family, they all serve a similar purpose of the loving, caring and supporting of members within the family. Throughout the years, ideologies surrounding the definition of the idealistic family picture and of the nuclear family within our society has been changed through further discussion and academic conclusions regarding race, class sexual orientation, and the patriarchal structures surrounding the historical families. Drawing from Bell Hooks (1990) and Michelle Owen's (2001) writings, this essay will demonstrate how similarly and differently the authors approach the idea of social constructionism of the heteronormative family in western

In her essay, she mentions that, “the ideology of patriarchal model of family provides a prism through which relationships are examined, the ideal to which many aspire and measure against which we all are judged…” (Owens, 90). She claims that society’s nuclear family is nothing but merely an idea that is socially constructed and further regulates dependent on the state’s laws regarding gay marriage and families. The author gives supporting evidence to establish her point of people becoming victims of exclusion due to their sexual orientation, race, and class. Cases like lesbian couples winning cases of child adoption, for example the M v H case are a few examples that clearly displayed such discrimination. Here it is evident that not only discrimination regarding sexual orientation is apparent, but also within that there is discrimination of race and class, where still white supremacy is dominating. Overall, Owen becoming a spokesperson successfully demonstrates the controversies surrounding “Queering the normal or Normalizing the queer” (Owen,

She uses examples in constructing the family equation and occasionally displaying the differences and inequalities that occur when certain elements within the equation are replaced, demonstrating intersecionality. For instance, she describes how white women who are queers are able to live their life normally like heterosexual families, but when race and class are compromised, alternate complications arise. Moreover, families regardless of type serve a similar sense of motherhood and nurturing process. Thus, the application of intersectionality to the homeplace and family suggests that whether the homes’ foundation is strong or weak, the relationship of the families residing in it, is of truly