Nuclear Family
The nuclear family is recognized as the most basic form of social organization in the society. It is considered as the esteemed type of family in the community and it the recommended in Christianity and other religions. In most cases a nuclear family involves two adults, a man and a woman getting married and giving birth to kids. However, anthological research has brought out a different perspective because there are variations in the kind of family set up. With time the definition of family has changed this due to emergence of same gender marriage around the world (famouskin, 2010). In consideration to John F Kennedy’s family, it was a nuclear family composed of six members-J. F. Kennedy his wife Jackie and there four kids; Arabella (died during birth), Caroline Bouvier , John F. Kennedy and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy.
Extended Family
Extended families may be large including relatives such as in-laws, grandparents, uncles and cousins but some may go as far as the great grandparents. Families’ members usually work to gather resources and share responsibilities in a home such as taking care of the children. In extended set up, family’s strength and capability to deliver needs to the children increases due to multigenerational relationship. However, threats such complicated relationships and controversial loyalties are associated with extend families (Blessing, 2017).
Considering the extended family of the former American president John F Kennedy. John F Kennedy was born in Brooklyn, he was the son to Rose Fitzgerald and Joseph Patrick Kennedy. The extended family of J. F. Kennedy involves his great grandfather Patrick Kennedy who was an immigrant in Irish who settled in Boston in Massachusetts and had a son, Patrick junior. Patrick Jr was a successful businessman and finally got into politics leaving his business under his son Joseph Kennedy. Joseph Kennedy became affluent in his business and used his wealth to help his son John F. Kenny to contest for presidency. In 1947 being a member of the congress J.F Kennedy married Jackie Bouvier (famouskin, 2010). Jacqueline was a daughter of a wealthy business man in South Hampton in New York. John F Kennedy and Jackie had four children, Arabella (born still, 1956), Caroline Bouvier born in 1957 in New York, John F. Kennedy Jr. born in 1960 in Washington Dc and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy in 1963 and later died in the same year.
Single Parent
Single parenthood has recently increased in number mostly as a result of death of one of the partners or divorce however, some are by choice. In this family set up one parent takes full responsibilities of the family, including taking care of the children. This usually happens among parents who have well off financially and can take care of the kids on their own (Blessing, 2011). Members of a single parents are always close and work together because of the strong bond they have. Sometimes in this type of set up children lack enough care but most seek assistance from the relatives. With consideration to genealogy of J F Kennedy we can note that various members of the family who lived as single parents due to different reasons. Patricia Helen Kennedy a sister to J F Kennedy was married to an actor, Peter Lawford, divorced after having four children and lived as a single parent.
Childless Family
Childless family is one of the merging set ups in this generation due to various reasons. There are some couples who are unable to have children or they willing decide not to have children due to fear of responsibilities. Such spouses will either choose to commit their responsibilities to a pet or have close contact with their relatives (Blessing, 2011). This type of marriage is considered untraditional because the main reason for marriage is to have kids. However, those whose reason for being childless is due to biological problems such as infertility consider adopting children or live with one of their relatives to keep them company. The family tree of J. F. Kennedy had such cases of childless families. Joseph Patrick Kennedy Junior a brother to J. F. Kennedy did not get married and never had children but he was once in a relationship with Athalia Ponsell (famouskin, 2010). Rose Marie Kennedy a sister to the former US president neither did she marry nor have kids.
Ritual of the Family
Rituals are one of the significant factors in any family set up, they give a full definition of a family and also assigns responsibilities to each family member. It helps to strengthen family connections since it brings the family together and give it a sense of belonging. Some of family rituals include praying together, going to church or doing exercise together. In case of the former US presidents family we can able to established various ritual displayed. The family held mass together incase of any ceremonies such as weddings and burial ceremonies (Butterfield, 1998). During the wedding of Rory extended family of Kennedy converge at Hyannis for a mass ceremony presided by two priest who had also conducted mass during the burial of Rory’s brother. Burying of the loved ones in the sea, J. F. Kennedy, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Lauren Kennedy were both buried in the sea, as one of their family ritual.
Habits of the Family
Family habits is vital factor even among the single parent families, it keeps the family together and gives it a sense of belonging. Having family habits such as eating healthy and doing exercise reduces he risks diseases related to health. Habits such celebrating and having festivals keeps the family together and improve communication. J. F. Kennedy’s family had certain habits that kept the family as one fabric. Rose Kennedy who happens to be a single parent for some time after divorce was a dedicated Christian who never missed church even in her old age (Bernstein, 1993). Celebration of holidays was also one of the family habit in J F Kennedy family, they went for vacations and also did charity works. During Christmas J F Kennedy held Christmas celebration at the statehouse annually.
Dating Practices
Dating normally begins at the age of around 18 years when the young adults have matured enough to decision on their own. It normally done in order for partners to know each other well in preparation for marriage. There are various factors that confines the dating practices and this include social classes, beliefs among others. With reference to Kennedy extended family we can notice various dating practices and factors that affected the dating practices. Dating practices was normally between couples from the same denomination, both Kennedy and his wife came from the same denomination (Catholic Church). Another factor that confined dating practices is the social class, John F Kennedy being from a wealthy family got engaged to Jackie from a rich background. Kennedy married Jackie Bouvier from a wealthy family in Southampton, New York (Famouskin, 2010). Dating started at early age, in their puberty Joseph Kennedy always accompanied Rose to parties and after graduation rose and Joseph Kennedy started their courtship.
Kennedy met his spouse Jacqueline Lee (1929-1994), when he was a congress man, they were introduced by a journalist Charles Bartlett at dinner party, they got married a year later after he became a senator in 1953, The young family went through a few challenges while trying to grow the family, Jacqueline had a miscarriage in 1955 and in 1956 she had a still birth (Butterfield, 1998). Jackie also wanted to file a divorce against the husband with the claims that he spent most times away from her. In 1957 Caroline the only surviving member of the Kennedy family was born, just before Kennedy was assassinated.
Legality of the Family
Family legality are factor that are considered rightfully to be done in a given family setting. Today the prehistoric set up of the nuclear family has continued to change. We have cases where the father does not share the same roof with the mother of his children and he only sees them once in a while or sometimes never at all depending on their relationship with the mother (Blessing, 2011). The vice versa is also possible though it’s rare due to the legal provisions that will be discussed later in this paper. Family legalities also applied during inheritance and succession, in the African setting only male children were allowed to inherit land from their father (Bernstein, 1993). The family of J.F Kennedy was powerful and wealthy, wealth was passed from father to son so was power. Patrick Jr. passed his saloon business to his son Joseph Kennedy decided to join politics. Kennedy comes to succeed his father in politics, he becomes a congress member and later on the president of America.
Roles of Individuals
Roles of individuals in family differ depending on the type of family set up. The nuclear family is recognized as the most basic form of social organization in the society. Though, anthological research has brought out a different perspective because there are variations in the kind of set up and the operation of the nuclear family. The roles of the mother, father, wife, husband, son, daughter, sister or brother are varied. For instance, the children in a nuclear family might be the responsibility of the mother’s brother or sister and not their biological father as precedence states in the typical western family set up (Blessing, 2011). For instance, the children in a nuclear family might be the responsibility of the mother’s brother or sister and not their biological father as precedence states in the typical western family set up.
Roles of the families members change as the members grow up, as the parents grow older and the children become adults it turns out to be their role to take care of their old parents. We can therefore conclude that the roles in a family are dynamic. In relation to Mr. Kennedy’s family every single parent took part in their duties without any instance of irresponsibility. Mr. Kennedy ensure that his children are in good health, when his son Jack fall sick he stays with him in hospital till he gets well even though he had political duties to undertake (famouskin, 2010). Despite of the cases of unfaithfulness and a short divorce, Joseph provided everything to the family.
Conflict in the Family
Major conflicts in a family can be due to uncountable reasons, In most families there can be instances of dissatisfactions amongst siblings. Some may feel marginalized due to the estates allocated to them compared to their siblings. Parents and their kids more often than not have different opinions on the allocation of resources especially assets. Many at times the parents treat the children equal and therefore share the resources to them equally for the present and for the future. Amongst parents the major causes of conflicts in the family are different from those of kids, here the issue includes conflicts of interest where one partner has different goals than that of the spouse or the whole family, another cause of conflict includes unfaithfulness and other marital conflicts (Blessing, 2011). In the family of john F Kennedy there are various conflict some of them being marital conflicts. Mr. Kennedy had conflicts with his wife and call for a divorce, but later the conflict is settled.
Disagreements and conflicts are sometime unavoidable within a community especially when people have different decisions and views. Conflict was part of J. k. Kennedy family, Jackie complained to her family about Kennedy staying away from home for his trips and never considered to come to be with his wife. For that case Jackie considered to divorce with Kennedy. Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald turned out to be a single parent for some time after a conflict with his husband Joseph (Butterfield, 1998). He was accused of being unfaithful in marriage which involved Gloria Swanson. When Jackie was 10 years old her parents divorced her mother late got married to another man who was a businessman.
Disagreements and conflicts are sometime an avoiding within a community especially when people have different decisions and views. Conflicts can be either be between a child and a parent, parents or within the extended family. Serious conflicts befell the family of J. F. Kennedy that led to sorrow In the family. J. F. Kennedys family face constant tragedies included the death of his two children and older brother Joseph in the 2nd world war (Bernstein, 1993). Joseph was has gone for a mission and died in a flight explosion. Death of his children was the major tragedy.
Theoretical Perspective
Theoretically single parenting is perceived to be easier since the child is attached to one parent thus developing strong bond and love between the parent and the child, which makes parenting simpler. Single parenting on the other hand can become difficult for the other parent to administer responsibilities to the child due to ineffective interaction with the children. Kennedy family was full of vision with each member taking full responsibility of the family despite of the few conflict in the family. The family root was wealthy and this was passed to the next generation successfully (Bernstein, 1993). His grandfather Patrick Junior was a businessman and later became Politian, J. F. Kennedy followed the same footsteps.
References
Bernstein, I. (1993). Promises Kept: John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier. In Google Books. Oxford University Press.
Blessing, M. (2011). Types of Family Structures. Love To Know; Love To Know Corp.
Butterfield, F. (1998). In All-Too-Familiar Ritual, Kennedys Gather for a Burial. The New York Times.
Famouskin. (2010). John F. Kennedy Family Tree and Famous Kin. Famouskin.com.