The document discusses perspectives on the current state and necessity of the nuclear family. While sociological views have shifted to downplay the nuclear family's role, evidence from studies supports that it highly benefits children's development. Alternative family structures like same-sex couples and single parents are increasingly common. However, data indicates children from nuclear families do better financially, academically, and health-wise. So while society is evolving, the nuclear family still merits importance as a foundation for child-rearing.

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Nuclear Family:
Societal Bedrock or Shifting Sand?
Aaron Knight
SOCK 301-01, Sociology of the Family
Professor Ariel M. Cooksey
December 2, 2016

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Abstract
In this paper, several different viewpoints are considered concerning both the current state of the
nuclear family, as well as the general sociological viewpoint of its necessity. Evidence presented
was gathered from numerous studies as published in scientific, peer reviewed journals. While
there is a sociological shift that tends to downplay the role of the nuclear family in general, the
general evidence seems to support the conclusion that a strong nuclear family is highly beneficial
in the life and development of children, in all aspects from education to social development. This
paper presents this evidence.
Keywords: sociology, family, nuclear family, child development

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Nuclear Family:
Societal Bedrock or Shifting Sand?
In recent years, the scientific field of sociology has found evidence that the common view
of the family is changing. Society in general has come to consider the value of many more views
of family than once might have been considered acceptable. Same sex couples, heterosexual
couples co-habiting either before or in place of marriage, the increased value of friendship and
chosen relationships in comparison to the former ascendancy of blood relations, all of these are
different elements that have become part of our societal framework. As a result, the question that
Western civilization is grappling with is that of the role of the traditional “nuclear family.” Once
a bedrock of the culture of the free world, its place has become less certain. The purpose of this
paper is to analyze some of the data from studies that have approached this question. Through
answering a series of questions, this essay will ultimately show that there is, indeed, a great deal
of evidence that shows that the nuclear family is still of vital importance, particularly as a vehicle
for the most productive environment for the enrichment and education of the children raised in
such families. Those questions are as follows:
1. What is the “nuclear family,” and what are some of the new alternative family and co-
habitation concepts challenging it?
2. Does data indicate that these other concepts of family are indeed a threat to the
concept of the nuclear family, and if so, is that a cause for alarm?
3. What does the data indicate in regards to the significance of the nuclear family
structure moving forward?

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What is the “nuclear family,” and what are some of the new alternative family and co-
habitation concepts challenging it?
According to the 2015 article entitled “The ‘nuclear family paradigm’ as a marker of rights
and belonging in transnational families,” published in the scientific journal Social Identities:
Journal For The Study Of Race, Nation And Culture, the nuclear family is a married pair of
human adults, one male, one female, as well as their children. Family units with this structure
have been present for all of recorded human history, however, history shows that these have not
been the only structure to be called family. The term nuclear family itself did not appear until the
20th century.
Traditionalists argue that this concept of family is of deep structural importance to society,
and should therefore be both protected and promoted. However, some sociologists argue that the
nuclear family is no longer alone in its claim to the role of “family,” and that newer definitions
should include same-sex couples, couples who co-habitate and have children without marriage,
single parent homes, and couples without children. The question remains, are these other
concepts of family anathema to the nuclear family ideal?
It is certain that there have been those who argue that is the case. However, there is much to
suggest the rising prevalence of what sociologists have labeled the post-modern family, family
structures such as those mentioned that do not fit the nuclear family mold. Indeed, with concepts
such as detraditionalization, as well as the continuing individualization and liberation of women,
some of the non-egalitarian rules that were viewed as part and parcel of the nuclear family are
disappearing, even in those families whose outward structures look the same.

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Does the data indicate that these other concepts of family are indeed a threat to the concept
of the nuclear family, and if so, is that a cause for alarm?
To answer this question, one must first look at some of the challenges that face the nuclear
family. Second, one must then use the available date to ascertain whether or not those challenges
are occurring separately from new familial concepts, are caused by them, or are simply occurring
simultaneously due to the same inciting incidents. Finally, one must consider whether potential
conflict between the new ideas and the old is, in itself, something that should cause alarm.
Some of the problems facing those with traditional concepts of the nuclear family come in the
way that the early part of the 20th century considered the way that traditional families should be
structured. Men were considered to be the ultimate authorities, the primary “bread-winners,” and
the final say in the household. Women were “supposed to be” subservient, primarily child-
rearers, and dependent on their husbands for support.
However, particularly in the 60’s, the West saw a paradigm shift in thought concerning the
role of women in the household. Feminism charged women to be more independent, to be self-
sufficient, even in marriage, neither subservient to their husbands, nor reliant on them alone to
support the family’s monetary needs. Traditionalists viewed this trend as dangerous and
threatening, and worried over the potential damage to family structure, as well as the other social
structures that depended upon strong nuclear families as their foundation.
On the one hand, this seeming alarmism has been verified as well founded by the numbers.
According to the 2016 article “Beyond the nuclear family: an evolutionary perspective on
parenting,” as printed in Current Opinion In Psychology, 7, nuclear families now seem to be a
minority, at least in America. There is a rising prevalence of single-parent households, unmarried
couples with children, couples without children, and same-sex couples with children. In fact,

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nuclear families that contain the original biological parents only constitute approximately 24.1%
of American households.
According to that same article, single parents are raising a significantly larger portion of
children than they once did. In 2007, there were 13.7 million single parent homes in the United
States, 84% of which were mothers, and only 16% were fathers. According the 2014 study
entitled “Health of children and adolescents in single-parent, step-, and nuclear families: results
of the KiGGS study,” published in Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung,
Gesundheitsschutz, more than half of all children worldwide have spent at least some portion of
their childhood in a single parent household.
In the 2015 article entitled “The Evolution Of Plural Parentage: Applying Vulnerability
Theory To Polygamy And Same-Sex Marriage,” published in volume 64 of the Emory Law
Journal, author Stu Marvel discusses how same sex and polyamorous households are changing
the family dynamic even further. The article discusses the precarious arguments of the child
vulnerability theory and how it interacts with recent rulings in favor of both same sex marriage
and sexual privacy for adults. It explores how such rulings might affect custody of children born
into households with multiple conjugal partners.
All of these new forms of family seem to have the same roots. The studies mentioned all also
seem to come to the same conclusion, which is that the nuclear family concept will have to either
evolve, or be altogether overtaken by these other forms of family. The question these studies do
not answer, at least not directly, is whether or not these new forms of family will have a negative
effect upon society. Inevitable as these new alternatives seem, questions remain as to whether
they will serve as well as the nuclear family. There is some evidence to suggest that the nuclear

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family concept remains viable as the most effective means of child rearing, with statistical
benefits to crime avoidance, higher achievement in education, and emotional stability.
What does the data indicate in regards to the significance of the nuclear family structure
moving forward?
As previously stated, there is data that suggests the viability of the nuclear family over some
other family structures. In the 2013 article “What Ever Happened to the Nuclear Family? Impact
of a Changing America on Financial Services,” published in volume 67 of Journal Of Financial
Service Professionals, author Sandra Timmermann states that couples do better financially than
non-couples, and couples who remain in their first marriage are statistically better off financially
than couples who have been in multiple marriages. Nuclear families, particularly those in which
the original parents are still together, also report the highest incomes, lower concerns in paying
living expenses, and lower concerns about retirement.
Educationally, data indicates that children of nuclear families do better in school than those in
single parent homes, for example. In a 2016 article entitled “Does family structure affect
children's academic outcomes? Evidence for Spain,” published in the 53rd volume of The Social
Science Journal, authors Daniel Santin and Gabriela Sicilia provide evidence that shows that
membership in non-nuclear families does, indeed have a negative impact on grades. This
negative impact increases the older the student is, having the greatest impact on students in the
secondary education system, particularly in mathematics.
According to one study previously mentioned, there is data to suggest that children in
traditional nuclear families are both more emotionally healthy, as well as physically healthy. In
the 2014 article entitled “Health of children and adolescents in single-parent, step-, and nuclear
families: results of the KiGGS study,” from the 57th volume of the medical journal

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Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz, the authors show data that
indicates that emotional problems occur more often in single parent and step-family households
than in original parent nuclear households. They also show that show that children and
adolescents in single and step-parent homes have increased chances of chronic illness and lower
quality of life health-wise than do children of original parent nuclear families.
Conclusion
To conclude, the modern world has much to wrestle through. While it is obvious that there are
positive forces providing pressure upon society to evolve in its view of what exactly family is,
these evolutions cannot truly occur without consequences. While it is indeed a good thing that
women have gained greater financial and personal freedom within the context of marriage,
divorce rates are still quite high. While it is indeed a necessary societal change that sees
individuals have greater freedom in choosing permanent life-partners, of whatever gender they
desire, we cannot simply ignore the potential cost of abandoning the concept of the nuclear
family. Statistical evidence shows that nuclear families are more financially secure, and less
fearful of future economic events, such as retirement or hospitalization. Evidence shows that
children of nuclear families, particularly those in which both original parents are involved, do
better in school, are healthier emotionally, and are healthier physically. Ultimately, even though
social pressures are pushing toward different family paradigms, the nuclear family still has merit,
and therefore remains necessary as a societal foundation.

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BALAN, C. (2016). POSTMODERN FAMILY- COORDINATES AND TRENDS. Scientific
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Klever, P. (2015). Multigenerational relationships and nuclear family functioning. American
Journal Of Family Therapy, 43(4), 339-351.
Marvel, S. (2015). The Evolution Of Plural Parentage: Applying Vulnerability Theory To
Polygamy And Same-Sex Marriage. Emory Law Journal, 64(6), 2047-2088.
Mukherjee, P., Chaudhuri, A., & De, S. (2016). Contributory factors of marital quality for joint
and nuclear family setup: a study on urban couples. Indian Journal Of Community
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Mustasaari, S. (2015). The ‘nuclear family paradigm’ as a marker of rights and belonging in
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Rattay, P., von der Lippe, E., & Lampert, T. (2014). [Health of children and adolescents in
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Santín, D., & Sicilia, G. (2016). Does family structure affect children's academic outcomes?
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Sear, R. (2016). Beyond the nuclear family: an evolutionary perspective on parenting. Current
Opinion In Psychology, 7 (Evolutionary psychology), 98-103.
Seven, S., & Ogelman, H. h. (2012). Attachment Stability in Children Aged 6 to 9 Years in
Extended and Nuclear Families. Early Education & Development, 23(5), 766-780.
Timmermann, S. (2013). What Ever Happened to the Nuclear Family? Impact of a Changing
America on Financial Services. Journal Of Financial Service Professionals, 67(1), 27-29.