Nowadays, there are various definitions and perceptions when it comes to the matter of family. The most common perception of a family involves parents and children. However, the term extends further, and some sources prefer to define a family as several individuals who are connected genetically or legally, which includes married couples, relatives, etc. Others prefer to define family as a household with people who are not only connected either genetically or legally but also reside together. Thus, such approaches to the concept of a family make this matter ambiguous and subjective.
Considering the dubious nature of family, it is vital to analyze the commonly accepted definition by the Census Bureau. While members of the family might reside in separate houses, in reality, a single person can still be considered a part of many families. Yet, such a definition is not feasible and practical for gathering statistical data. The Census Bureau generally accepts the formal definition of family, although with one caveat. According to the Bureau, a family must reside in the same household (Cohen). As a result, the Census Bureau restricts each family to one home, and each individual can only be recorded as a member of a specific family once (Cohen). This implies that individuals who do not reside in the given households, which includes students who live in dormitories, military employees abroad, prisoners, or residents of nursing homes, cannot be considered members of the family (Cohen). Thus, the Census Bureau qualifies individuals as a family only when they meet the following criteria: the people must be related by birth, adoption, or marriage and reside in the same house.
The situation of Jimmy and Kim can be considered problematic since they are still a married couple, but they do not reside in the same house. It could be assumed that these people are a family since they are two individuals who are related by marriage. However, considering the aforementioned characteristics of the family, Jimmy and Kim cannot be considered one. There are distinct features that prove this argument, including the fact that both of them reside in different countries. While Jimmy lives in Omaha, United States, Kim lives in the Bahamas. Moreover, though there was no divorce, the couple most likely does not communicate with each other due to the criminal activities of one of the parties. As a result, the only connection between Kim and Jimmy is legal. Otherwise, the former couple does not fit the criteria of the Census Bureau, which involves relation by birth, adoption, or marriage and the fact of residing in the same house.
Hence, while there are many subjective and ambiguous definitions of the term family, there are specific, commonly accepted characteristics of the matter that allow proper identification. In this sense, the Census Bureau identifies a family as people who are related by birth, adoption, or marriage and reside in the same house. Consequently, those who do not meet the given criteria cannot be considered a family or a member of the family. Thus, it can be said that the Census Bureau cannot view a couple of Jimmy and Kim as a family. While both individuals are related by marriage, they do not reside in the same house, implying that they are no longer a family.
Work Cited
Cohen, Philip N. The Family: Diversity, Inequality, and Social Change. W.W. Norton, 2020.