The Family is one of the most important social groups we belong to as we grow up and become part of society. It is the place where we learn most of our values and find a belonging. Without our families we would not be the same people we grow up to become. Throughout history, the word family has carried many different meanings. Most people think of a family as a mother, father, and several children, but a family could be almost any group with common characteristics. All of the many different types of families are very important to society as well as the individual as they mature and find a place in life.
             There are several different definitions of the word family in the dictionary. The first definition in the dictionary is, "kindred, especially one's own spouse, parents, and children". This definition goes along with the common perception of the traditional family. According to Plumb, the traditional family has in the past served three primary social functions: providing a labor force, the transmission of property, and the education of children, preparing them to start their own family. This had created a cycle which allows humanity to carry on. One family's offspring make there own family and that family's offspring makes their own family and so on and so forth. The children learn the methods that they will use in their life to create their own families. Without the support of this traditional family society could not work because there is no way a child can live and learn on their own.
             Some say this traditional family is dying and perhaps it is. The structure of the traditional family is still the same but the functions of family have changed. With child labor laws coming into play, children are not as much a part of the labor force as they once were. More emphasis is on the children learning to someday become a part of the labor force. Without the family supporting them they will not be able to receive the prope...