Contexts of Societal Subcultures in Families (Essay Sample)

Subculture
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Introduction
Every person in this world belongs to a subculture. In each subculture, there are unique sets of values, beliefs, norms, folkways, mores and taboos. There are also sanctions that people face when they do not conform to the norms of the group. In this paper, the subculture being considered is my family. I consider my family as a subculture due to several reasons. The material culture of my family is defined by the fact that we live in the same homestead in the rural area. While many people do not see family as a subculture, it indeed is because it falls under the larger context of society and the broader culture of the respective society in which it exists.
Research Findings
Concerning my family as a subculture, there are several things that I have come to find out during my research. First, my family has its unique norms. Norms are the rules of culture. Our family has norms that have been reinforced over time, which operate as invisible constraints on the behavior of all the members. More particularly, there are standards for how members of our family dress, talk and act and these are the norms of the family. For instance, females in our family are not allowed to put on short skirts. There are also standards on what behaviors are permissible and those that are not permissible under various circumstances and conditions. More than being just rules of etiquette, the norms of our family members guide them on how to behave when they are within or without the home. For example, in the presence of visitors, noise-making is prohibited within our family compound.
Second, there are also unique values cherished by our family. These are the ones that set the basic tone for the foundation of our home. They inspire the policies and practices of our family. Typically, everyone who has created wealth in our family has a say. Everyone in our family respects those members who have succeeded in entrepreneurship because we all know that it is not easy. A good example of a value that is cherished in our family is naming children after our ancestors. When my grandfather passed on a few years ago, my nephew who was born a year later was named after him. Throughout his life, my grandfather held progressive views and acted on them. My nephew has continued to show effort in remaining true to the name given to him.
Thirdly, there are traditions in our family. These traditions have been passed down from previous generations. In the past, members of our ancestral family lived together in one place. We have taken up this tradition and decided that we shall live together as a family in one place and make sure that the traditional routines are kept alive by elders in our family. The elders in our extended family have occasional meetings where they discuss on how they are going to teach younger people the traditions of the family. Each year members of our family meet every summer and one person is given the responsibility of organizing family events. To keep track of our large family, the role has been given to my cousin who has database of telephone numbers for everyone and updates them regularly to ensure that everyone receives family messages.
Fourthly, there are folkways that are unique to members of our family. For example, for the sake of social acceptance, members of