A family is a domestic group of people, or a number of
domestic groups linked through descent (demonstrated or
stipulated) from a common ancestor, marriage or adoption.
Families have some degree of kinship. In Western culture,
a family is defined specifically as a group of people
affiliated by blood or by legal ties such as marriage
or adoption. Many anthropologists argue that the notion
of "blood" must be understood metaphorically;
some argue that there are many non-Western societies where
family is understood through other concepts rather than
"blood." Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights says, "The family is the natural
and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled
to protection by society and the State". Family can
also refer to a community. For example, someone who is
a part of the firefighting community is a member of the
family of firefighters.
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