by Bernadette Jasmin

Created on: March 10, 2007   Last Updated: November 26, 2010

We live in a time when the definition of family is being subverted. The original definition was pretty cut and dried. A man and a woman marry and have children. Today the traditional family has degenerated through neglect. Most people do not identify or support the family. Our society has become fragmented and chaotic.

One of the basic structures that our society has stood on is being destroyed. Many social issues have chipped away at the foundation of our society. People who marry no longer feel it a duty to make their marriage work. Infidelity is rampant, therefore disease. Through this erosion many children are being raised in nontraditional families. They no longer have the traditional image to emulate.

The abuse of children have also caused many family ills. The family unit was once a protection for children. Now many times parents are molesting and abusing their children in viles ways. Our foster care system is bursting with fractured children from these broken families.

We rail and rue the crimes and ills of our society, but fail to correct the main problem. For example, children that enter gangs are often looking for a family group to belong to, although an ineffectual one. As a society we want to make excuses as to why our society is failing. Nevertheless we do not look to the basics.

It is a good thing to find people that support us and help us when our families breakup. Nevertheless, the original family unit is the best structure for a child to be raised in. Both men and women are of equal value in a marriage. Of course some may end up raising their children on their own and may make a great success of it. Nevertheless, the risk of having children come out of these situation with difficulties is increased.

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