The Family is Also Where We Learn Hate, Rage, and Shame?

This article was originally only supposed to be my journal. I have decided to post it here, for the arguments herein presented constitute an important part of my ideology (in the broader sense of the term), and I believe it is among “the least unworthy of being offered to the public”.

The journal was written as an answer to a topic question, which I now reiterate for the sake of contextualisation:

According to social critic Barbara Ehrenreich, “At best, the family teaches the finest things human beings can learn from one another—generosity and love. But it is also, all too often, where we learn nasty things like hate and rage and shame.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not?

I have no knowledge about Barbara Ehrenreich, nor have I done any research regarding her opinion. Therefore, I took the liberty of answering according to the literal meaning of her statement.

My answer is as follows.


　　The family is the cradle of humanity. In Rousseau’s words, it is the first society, where parents selflessly provide for the living of their children, receiving only love in return. Indeed, the family nurtures the development of fine qualities such as generosity and love, which are what make this world a beautiful place to live in. It is quite apparent to see how the family could become the source of generosity and love: parents are individuals of liberty, bonded together by nothing but their own will; and it is love that makes them willing to become united. Parents share their belongings, their affections, even their lives with each other. What could be more generous than giving everything one has to the other half? Similarly, as soon as they have a child, the child naturally receives the same kind of devotion for being the embodiment of their love to each other. The upbringing of the child also requires the parents to share what they have with him/her, at least until the child can provide for his/her own preservation and become independent, wherefrom they and the child remain united “no longer naturally, but voluntarily.”

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