Familia, Family or Warumungu: A Reflection on American, Puerto Rican and Aboriginal Family Structure and Dynamics

According to Conrad Kottak in his book Mirror for Humanity family is defined as “a group of people (ex. Parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, spouses, siblings-in-law, children-in-law) whom are considered to be related in some way.” Throughout the myriad of cultures found in the world, the vast majority has some sort of family structure. However, the basic family structure varies from small distinctions to greater distinctions depending on the culture studied.

The Aboriginal family dynamic differs from American culture. In the Aboriginal, the whole family structure lives together (5). This includes, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The family structure of the Aborigine is focused greatly on family of orientation. Unlike that of the United States. In America today, there is a strong influence of the nuclear family, which strongly emphasis on the concept of family procreation (6). That is, in American society families tend to focus on the family that they create and tend to rely mainly on the father, mother and offspring. One does not really see the vast majority of American families living with three generations, rather only two. That is how my brother in law of Irish descent for example, views family. He strictly focuses on living only with his wife (my sister) and potentially children, rather than the whole family.

Now however in the culture I was raised in, there are differences and similarities to an extent. My family focuses somewhat on both the family of procreation and orientation. Back home, I lived with my sister, brother, mother and grandmother. I lived with a part of the family my mother was raised in. Furthermore, when doing gatherings my entire “nuclear family” would attend as well as my mother’s family of orientation. To add on, in my culture family is of great importance and whenever a family member is in need, (regardless of who) everyone gives a hand.  Reflecting on the family structure of the Australian Aborigines I can relate and differ to an extent. Like my culture, family is of great importance for the Aborigines. In times of need the Aboriginal Family structure is always there to help each other (4). Moreover, though Aboriginal parents are involved in childcare, the elders play a great role in child rearing and care as well (4).  To an extent I can relate to this specific scenario. For example, when I was younger, my mother would go to work but the person whom watched and took care of my siblings and I was my grandmother. Therefore, my grandmother played a strong in rearing my siblings and I, as well as my mother. Moreover, older children as well are often required to look after younger siblings and help in the household or financially in the aboriginal family dynamic (5). When my brother and I were younger, my sister had to watch out and help the family greatly. She had to watch my brother and I at times, and also cook and clean for us while we waited for our mom. Additionally, she would also have to work to help support the family. However, my family structure distinguishes from that of Aborigines by the fact that my whole entire family does not live together. My “nuclear” family lives in Orlando for example, while some of my other family members live in Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Puerto Rico. We do not live all together like that of the Aborigine family structure.

Though, there are great differences in the family dynamics found in the world, there are also great similarities. It is great to know that despite culture, language and location I can relate to a certain extent to an entire different culture. Familia, Family or Warumungu  (1), we can all have similarities in our culture. 

1. Aboriginal Languages of Australia

n.d Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages. Electronic Document, http://www.dnathan.com/VL/index.php?searchstring=family&searchtype=all, Accessed February 17, 2015.

2. Australian Law Reform Committee

n.d Aboriginal Marriages and Family Structures Marriage in Traditional Aboriginal Societies. Electronic Document,  http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/12.%20Aboriginal%20Marriages%20and%20Family%20Structures/marriage-traditional-aboriginal-societie, Accessed February 10, 2015.

3. Australian Law Reform Committee

n.d Aboriginal Marriages and Family Structures Marriages in Aboriginal Societies Today. Electronic Document,  http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/12.%20Aboriginal%20Marriages%20and%20Family%20Structures/marriages-aboriginal-societies-today, Accessed February 10, 2015.
4. Bourke, Eleanor
1993 The First Australians: Kinship, Family and Identity. Electronic Document, http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fml/fm35eb.html, Accessed  February 11, 2015.

5. Pattel, N.

2007 Aboriginal Families, Cultural Context and Therapy. Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Health, 3(1).

6. Kottak, Conrad P.

2012 Mirror for Humanity: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. New York: McGraw Hill.

7. Smith, Stephanie
2002 Aboriginal Benchbook for Western Australian Courts: AIJA Model Indigenous Benchbook Project.Carlton. Carlton: Australian Institute of Judicial Administration.