A common phenomenon we see these days is newlyweds opting to move out of the groom’s home into their own abode. The same old, daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law not getting along with each other is not always the reason behind this trend. Many people, including parents and sons, willingly opt for living separately for a number of reasons.
In simple words, a nuclear family is one which consists of the husband-wife and their unmarried children. Soon after marriage, the children leave their parental home and establish their separate household. Hence a nuclear family is an autonomous unit free from the control of the elders. Since there is the physical distance between parents and their married children, there is a minimum interdependence between them. Thus a nuclear family is mostly independent. Modern family is a typical example of a nuclear family.
Advantages of Nuclear Family:
Development of Personality:
Nuclear family plays an important role in the development of the personality of individuals. Children are more close to the parents and can have a more free and frank discussion about their problems with parents which helps for the better development of their personality..
More Independence for Women
In nuclear families, the condition of the woman is better than joint families. She gets enough time to look after her children. She also gets time to plan and manage her house according to her own idea. There is no interference of elders. Her husband can also devote more attention to the wife in a nuclear family.
Better living environment for Children
There are many women and men who have had a troubled childhood and don’t want to give raise their own children in the same kind of environment that they grew up in. Many find constant interference from the parents, ego clashes, or lack of privacy as major reasons for living separately.
Peace and Harmony:
Peace and harmony are an essential part of pleasant family life. In nuclear families, there is lesser misunderstanding compared to Joint families. Hence they enjoy a harmonious atmosphere by living together.
Individual Responsibilities:
In the nuclear family, there is no shifting of responsibility like in a joint family. The parents are bound to take responsibility for their children by themselves. The head of the family has to work hard to take care of his family.
Disadvantages:
Economic disadvantage:
Living with the parents means they will always have a big support system on which they can rely on whenever somebody is sick, need any advice on crucial matters, have a financial crisis, find managing career, household and children are difficult, etc. Big families mean shared responsibilities and finances ensuring each member gets to relax and have a good time while performing their set of household duties to the best of their abilities which otherwise is not there in a nuclear family.
Negligence towards children:
In a nuclear family, both husband and wife are mostly working, which results in children being neglected and looked after by the servants. They feel lonely and are emotionally insecure. They develop more anxiety.
The tendency to get influenced by bad habits:
As it is an autonomous unit, it is free from the social control of elders. So the children develop all sorts of bad qualities. They become unsocial as they do not get the opportunity to mix with other members of the family.
Loneliness:
The feeling of loneliness is one of the important drawbacks in the nuclear family. After completion of the household task, the housewife becomes alone at home. When you are in a joint family there is always someone to spend your time with.