Family patterns in the modern world

The family is a cell of the society so it is very important for people to have families. Over the last years the conception of family has changed in most countries. In those days it was considered to be a strong one, built for life. Nowadays the families are united and separated very easily. It has become in some kind fragile, but in the same time very flexible. Men and women are equal and can choose – choose a spouse, a career, the quantity of children, the way of life. In spite of these changes the family doesn’t disappear as an institution.

There are several forms of family organization: the nuclear family, the extended family, one-parent families, childless couples, cohabitation, blended families, teen-parent units.

The traditional nuclear family ideals have declined, and been replaced with less traditional family structures. Households are moving further away from the family-structure model of a stay-at-home mother, working father, and children.

The traditional family of the 1950’s was patriarchal. It was headed by a married father and mother unit. More than likely the father worked and the mother stayed at home to raise the children. Her responsibilities covered all areas of domesticity: cleaning, cooking, entertaining, and childbearing. Women were financially dependent on their husbands.

Families don’t look like they did in the 1950’s anymore. People are marrying at older ages, getting more divorces, having fewer children, and frequently abstaining from marriage at all. The size of a traditional family is smaller. Women are starting their families later and more are sticking at a single child. These overall trends indicate significant changes in the family structure.

But the nuclear family is still the most common family to be brought up in. Nuclear family is by definition a man and woman living together with their legal children.

The positive aspect of living in a nuclear family environment is that the nuclear family is able to provide more emotional support that the family needs. Living in a nuclear family also provides help and assistance for children in finding occupations in the modern society.

The negative aspect of belonging to a nuclear family is the suggestion to children that to raise or have a family both a "mommy" and "daddy" are required. It suggests women can't survive without a "daddy". Many see the nuclear family as old fashioned and say that this type of family doesn't suit the changing times.

But research has shown that families without a father are more likely to be sexually abused, suffer from long-term emotional trauma, have children who will have more difficulties having a relationship when they are older, because they hadn’t an example shown through the mother and father.

But all in all, the nuclear family seems to be a good way to provide children with a healthy and happy home.

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