A nuclear family is a family containing 2-5 members. It is a small group which consists of a wife and husband and their immature children which forms a part of the community. After marriage, children leave their parents and their home and establish a new household. Nuclear families are quite common in today’s times. It is an autonomous family which is free from any control by the elders. Youth love their independence in recent times, and so the proportion of nuclear families is gradually increasing especially in cities.
Advantages
- With nuclear families, there is a lot of scope for personality development. Children become more close to parents and can discuss their thoughts frankly and freely.
- In nuclear families, women get more time to look after their children and also to manage her house according to her ideas. Elders do not interfere in household matters, and the husband can also give more attention to his wife.
- Nuclear families tend to do more family planning, and all members bear expenses and responsibilities together.
- There are fewer people so less misunderstanding and so they have a harmonious atmosphere and peaceful life.
- Parents are responsible for their children and both husband and wife shares responsibilities mutually.
- Savings and financial planning can be done effectively.
- All family members can enjoy an independent lifestyle.
Disadvantages
- As the family gets divided, the land also gets subdivided, and the yield is lesser. Also, many times due to lack of labor people have to employ outsiders. This causes economic loss to the members of the nuclear family to a great extent.
- As both wife and husband have to take up economic responsibilities, children are often neglected or left with servants. Children develop a feeling of loneliness and emotional insecurity as well as anxiety and depression. If the earning member dies or becomes incapable of earning, then there is no other person to support the family. Also, there is no support in time of emergencies or accident or sickness.
- In this independent unit, there is a lot of freedom, and so children tend to develop bad qualities by imitating their inmates. This leads to an indisciplined lifestyle. Also, they become unsocial and cannot get mixed with other family members.
- Loneliness is a major drawback of this type of families, and there is no help or support in case of emergencies. Also, there is no one to talk to in the free time.
- In nuclear families old, divorced and widows are neglected as no one has the time to take care of them. This makes them feel insecure, and children also become emotionally, socially and educationally maladjusted. This leads to frequent conflicts.
Conclusion
Although nuclear families have their set of advantages and independence, still it lacks the love and warmth of the traditional joint families. Children do not get the upbringing and culture from their elders, and they may end up being too undisciplined and spoilt. It is a personal choice to decide the type of family they want.
Edited.