In my Family Developmental Processes class, we're studying family ideologies. What is an ideology? I suppose it could be described as an abstract belief in which actions, behaviors, and goals are set upon. My professor asked us a troublesome question, "What is your family idology?" I found this to be a very difficult question to answer. One strategy in identifying a family's ideology would be to examine where resources (time, money, etc.) are allocated to. From deducing where money ends up in a family, one can then identify what his or her family/parents value(s) most.
I used to think that my dad worked so hard everyday, all day long, because he hated to be with the family. I even hated him at times. But after I started to mature and when I finally got out of the house, I realized that, yes, he worked for money, but where did his money end up? He spent his money on security (taxes, house repairs, food, clothes, etc.) and on sending me to college. However, by no means is he a perfect father. Realistically, he did neglect his parental responsiblity to be there for his children.
Finding the underlying ideologies in families can indeed be troublesome. Several people in my class contributed disturbing information to the lecture discussion. They explained how their parents' family ideology was a firm and immovable stance for work. They described it as an "iron fisted" ideology.
Although these people surely had difficult childhoods growing up on farms working from 8am to 5pm every day, I can't help but wonder if they are the same way that I was before I realized that my dad worked for a nobler cause than riches. Perhaps their parents, too, lost sight of the balance required to be an effective parent and focused too much on teaching their children long-suffering and responsiblity.
In the end, I deduced that there were four themes that make my family's ideology: security (financial, physical, etc.), knowledge (education, hobbies, etc.), and religion. Religion is the moral and spiritual boundaries that we set for ourselves because of our beliefs. It is, perhaps, the ultimate ideology, to strive to live in a way which would be worthy of God's presence.
So what is the use of knowing one's family ideology? I don't quite understand it myself yet. I believe that it has something to do with discovering possible conflicting ideologies within families and making compromises. Also, if your parents have an ideology that conflicts with your own, then you have to decide that you will be different.
5 Comments:
Wow Ben, just.... wow. I usually log on to wcxp to find a group of people arguing and insulting one another. Instead, I find something deep and insightful. What is wcxp coming to? Keep it up Ben.
By Anonymous, at 2/12/2005 03:11:57 PM
Did I misread or are there only three themes? Man, what's the fourth theme? It's killing me.
By bee, at 2/13/2005 10:12:08 PM
wow ben, just keep on making the rest of us look bad. good job.
By piro, at 2/13/2005 10:31:21 PM
Sorry, Bee. I guess in my mind I had separated the themes "money" and "physical goods," but when I went on I combined the two as "security."
By kimura625, at 2/13/2005 11:02:25 PM
It's okay, Ben. Thanks for the holla'.
By bee, at 2/14/2005 12:00:16 AM
