Families in Culture

    Family is an important aspect in cultures, and culture is an important aspect of families. Each have an effect on the other. Typical forms and beliefs of families are different depending on what culture you may find in the area. Similarly, the cultures of different places are varying across different families. I am not saying that families are only what their culture makes them. Culture is just an important aspect that may change the format, beliefs, and actions of families around the world.

    Families are the building blocks of our society. When families get involved in cultures around them, those cultures can be changed, and the families can adopt certain aspects of the culture. When looking at these changes, it is important for us to remember that culture is not just defined by the country or ethnicities involved. Down to its basics, culture is how we think, feel, judge, and act (The Effects of Family Culture on Family Foundations | Council on Foundations (cof.org)). Each family is unique, and one reason for this is the cultures (big or small) that they have experienced and have been a part of. 

    Cultures of different areas are formed and changed by the cultures of the individual families. Each of the families in a community have similar or different thoughts, opinions, feelings, traditions, judgements, and practices. When a family moves into a community and then interacts with other families in the area, the other families will begin to see the culture of the new family (through communication or observations). If there are aspects of the new family that the rest of the community appreciates, the community might adopt them. Similarly, if the new family sees things that they like in the community, they may adopt parts of the community culture as well. 

    This does not mean that the culture of the family and the culture of the community will become exactly the same. Each family has the ability to pick and choose what aspects of the community culture they would like to keep. This makes it so the community culture is often a culmination of the pieces of culture that most families in the area share.  

    The culture around autism has changed tremendously over time. Autism used to be thought of as a type of schizophrenia, caused by poor parenting (Autism diagnosis — The evolution of 'autism' as a diagnosis, explained (spectrumnews.org)). As experts continue to understand more about autism and those diagnosed with it, communities and families with autistic members will begin to change their cultures to adjust to better practices for those with autism. This can be shown in the therapies used to support those with autism. When children with autism would feel the need to stim (repetitive movements that bring comfort and relief), families were taught that it was best to hold the child down and prevent them from stimming. Now, therapists understand the need for stimming in those with autism, and encourage the use of stimming to prevent breakdowns that may be harmful. Additionally, new therapies and practices are being suggested very often, and families will begin to adopt these practices, judgements, and ideas.