Families and Normative Boundaries
Families are social institutions that consist of people related by birth or marriage. In many cultures, there are norms and expectations about how family members behave towards one another, including what is considered appropriate sexual behavior. These norms can vary widely between different cultures and even within families themselves.
When family members violate these norms, they may face consequences from their family, such as shaming, exclusion, or physical violence. This raises the question of whether families have any moral obligations towards those who break normative boundaries.
One argument for why families should not hold their members accountable for breaking normative boundaries is that it is not fair to punish someone for something they cannot control.
If a person has a mental illness that causes them to act out sexually inappropriately, they may be unable to help it, and punishing them would be unjust.
Some behaviors, such as coming out as LGBTQ+ or having an affair, may be seen as morally wrong by society but are not always harmful to others. Therefore, families should focus on helping their members rather than blaming or shaming them.
Families also have an obligation to maintain certain standards of behavior within their own communities. Failure to do so can damage the reputation of the entire family and lead to social isolation. It may also create feelings of guilt and shame among other family members who follow the rules. Some may feel betrayed by those who break the rules and resent having to defend them publicly. Families must weigh the needs of individual members against the good of the group and decide how much leeway they will allow for deviant behavior.
Families have both ethical responsibilities toward their members and to their community. They must balance their desire to support their loved ones with the need to uphold societal expectations. When faced with transgressions, they must consider the circumstances surrounding them and determine the best course of action. This requires sensitivity, compassion, and wisdom from all involved.
References
Baumeister, R., & Bushman, B. (2017). Social psychology and human nature (3rd ed.). New York: Pearson.
Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
What moral obligations do families have toward members who break normative boundaries?
Families are expected to respect their members' autonomy and individuality while keeping family ties strong. But it is also true that some social norms exist for a reason - they protect the safety of individuals and prevent them from harming others by violating cultural and religious rules. So when someone breaks normative boundaries within a family unit, there may be conflicting feelings about whether punishing them or letting them go would be morally justified.