Question

Compare and contrast nuclear and extended families in terms of their differences in privacy, rules, and authority. Would one type be more "child friendly" than the other? If so, how? How would the two types of families manage resources, such as income, room allocation or space, and distribution of chores? What aspects of your development would be more influenced by the type of family you grew up in?

Answer 1

With the advent of industrialization came the word nuclear family but until then the world had agrarian society and people lived in joint families. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Joint families hold the eldest to be the head of the family and they decide things for the entire family with no room for any discussion. Members will not have privacy and they will have to abide by the strict rules laid by the head of the family. Nuclear families are relatively small and both the husband and wife decide for themselves. They have more privacy and live as they like without worrying about any rules because they decide what should be the rule. There is more freedom and flexibility in decision making.

I think in terms of child friendly, it's joint family that scores better because of the availability of elders to play with the children and the presence of cousins, uncles and aunts. In nuclear families, both the parents work to meet the economic requirements, thus they spend less time with the children.

Joint families have more members thus more people working and contributing to the expenses, whereas in nuclear families either both the parents work or anyone works thus drawing less amount. The expenses are also relatively high in joint families whereas, the expenses are less in a nuclear family. Joint families struggle hard to provide individual room for everyone thus most of the families have a common hall where many people sleep this becomes a hindrance to couples. Nuclear families are small, so even with a two bedroom house they are alright. People share all the daily chores among themselves whereas in nuclear family, only one should do all the tasks.

The type of family one grows up will definitely impact the way one grows. It's all about people spending quality time with the children and teach them the values. This is in abundant in joint families. Most of the behavioral problems among the children today is because there is no one to listen, play and guide them at home in the nuclear families. Although both the types of families have their own advantages and disadvantages, people only try to adopt to the changing social scenarios and try to best suit themselves.

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