Family is a fundamental unit that shapes our identities in life. Every individual is born of a family. The cohesiveness of the family unit is integral in make sure that an individual is able to obtain the family values. Members of the family have a better understanding of an individual’s strengths and weaknesses. Based on the level family support, individuals are able to either embrace or shun their families’ values. This argumentative essay seeks to explain how family traditions and cultural legacies contribute to and or inhibit an individual’s self-identity. This paper will also include what I know about my family history, and how this family history is shared and valued among individual family members.
First, family values based on culture and heritage shape the identity of an individual. The identity of an individual heavily relies on his family culture and heritage. It is important to understand that the family plays a great role in helping an individual determine between good and bad (Jagger 149). Most of the etiquette that we learn as children comes from the family unit. This means that family units that have a higher regard for moral values are more likely to inculcate the same into their children. Similarly, families that deeply value their culture and heritage are more likely to make sure that their children adhere to their cultures. For example, most Americans speak English. However, there are families that trace their heritage in other countries around the world. It is a family choice if they would like to share their heritage with their children and future generation. For instance, there is a reasonable Hispanic population in the United States. Despite the fact that Hispanic are born in the United States, most Hispanic parents find it important to make sure that their children are able to learn both the Spanish language and culture.(Steele 51). If Hispanic parents do not step up and make sure that their children learn about their culture, these children are likely to view themselves just as Americans and forget the fact that they have a unique Spanish heritage and culture. Therefore family values both contribute or inhibit the self-identity of an individual.
Second, family builds the foundation for either pride or inferiority about one’s culture and heritage. Families play a fundamental role in making sure that children are able to take pride in their own culture. However, their families that create an environment whereby individuals feel that their cultures are inferior compared to other cultures. The choice of self-identity pure lies in the hands of the individual. There are individuals who choose to maintain their family values while others opt to shun their cultures and embrace other traditions that they consider to be superior. For example in the short story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. The author presents an interesting difference between Mamma’s two daughters. The names of the two daughters were Dee and Maggie. In the case of Dee, she did not appreciate her culture. She did everything in her capacity to make sure that she left her culture and traditions. She leaves her culture behind and embraces other cultures. On the contrary, Maggie does not shun her culture. She adheres to her culture and belief system. Unlike Dee she does not change her name. She is proud of how she was raised (Walker 420). This is a clear indication that despite the family playing a fundamental role in shaping self-identity of individuals, the choice of maintaining this identity purely lies in the hands of individual family members.
In my case, my family has had a cultural heritage of giving and fear of God. Since I was young, my grandparents would visit us during Thanksgiving. During Thanksgiving, my family would seat together and share a meal that included turkey. Each, member of the family would explain to other members of the family what they are thankful for. I remember my grandfather would always give the longest list for the things he was thankful for. Among his best stories was how he was involved in the World War II. My grandfather would explain how God had kept him from harm’s way. This culture of coming together during thanksgiving is a value that I hold dearly to date. Despite the fact that my grandparents already passed away, this is a tradition that I will seek to keep.
In addition to thanksgiving, my parents have maintained a high regard for church in my family. Since my childhood my family would leave early in the morning and go to church on Sundays. This helped me to grow up as an individual who us God fearing. Through the values that I learned in Church I was able to grow up appreciating other people despite the challenges that they might be facing. Despite the fact that we were brought up in the same household not all my siblings attend church as regularly as myself. This shows that cultural heritage and family history is valued differently by individual family members within my family unit.
Works Cited
Jagger, Gill. Changing Family Values. London: Routledge, 1999. Print.
Steele, Christy. Hispanic Culture. Florida: Rourke, 2006. Print.
Walker, Alice, and Barbara Christian. Everyday Use. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers UP, 1994. Print.
