The Struggle Of Nuclear Families During The Great Depression

The Struggle Of Nuclear Families During The Great Depression
Background
For the purpose of this article one must know the following references being defined by The
American Oxford Dictionary. A Nuclear Family is defined by as "A couple and their dependent
children, regarded as a basic social unit."(The American Oxford Dictionary). A Stepfamily is
considered as "a family that is formed on the remarriage of a divorced or widowed person and that
includes a child or children." (The American Oxford Dictionary) . A Single Parent Family is
considered as a "A person bringing up a child or children without a partner."(The American Oxford
Dictionary). A Same Gender Family " Relating to or involving people of the same sex raising
children"( The American Oxford Dictionary). A Childless Family "Not having any children."(The
American Oxford Dictionary).
, Divorced Family
Introduction
Do you know what the American Family is? Chances ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Once the Great Depression hit America, families were put to test their own stability. The Great
Depression lasted from 1929 to 1939, and was considered the worst economic crisis in the history of
the industrialized world in America. The Depression began around the time after the stock market
crashed on October 1929, which wiped out millions of investors. During this time there was a severe
lacking in employment and by 1933, 15 million people were unemployed. The option of having a
family was strained since there were financial issues. In addition the divorce rate was also in decline
seeing as no one could acquire a job, because it was to expensive and by 1940 about 2 million
married couples were living apart and the few families who had adjusted to their current situation,
many husbands began to desert their families, children started to work part–time jobs and women
also began to contribute by working in sewing, laundry, or even lodgers. When it seemed like the
Depression would never end another obstacle began to
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Compare And Contrast Alternative Family And Nuclear Family
The nuclear family vs. alternative family structure
Initially a picture of a nuclear family would best describe a so called family but today alternative
family structure is increasing because of the changing nature of families. This is due to things such
as technology, changing structure of families e.g. women entering workplace and divorce rate that
cause's initial structure to be broken down as people live as they please. In this essay nuclear family
structure verses the alternative family structure will be discussed through sociological imagination.
A family is a group of people that are interlinked through blood, the law (marriage), co–residence or
share the same resources. They are further described as adults of the same sex with children.
Through ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This then as stated above increases families such as single parents (by choose) and much more.
Today a lot of people strive for emotional security, if they cannot find it in a particular relationship
they are currently involved in, they are able to terminate that relationship and persuade it elsewhere.
This difference in these structures, from financial security to emotional security, makes it flexible
for people to move about because of the decrease in dependence on men from women. This had
been said, does not make the people incapable of raising of children, but highlights their level of
independency. They are also able to provide a safe and nutritious life for their children as in nuclear
families.
This structure also comes with great benefits like children not getting exposed to conflict that may
detriment them physically and emotionally due to things such as parents fighting, they develop a
stable mentality on who they depend on, do not have to experience tragic events such as when the
parents get a

Chipewan Family Vs Nuclear Family Essay
When it came to the Chipewyan, first marriages were arranged by parents, and girls were often
betrothed in childhood. Patrilateral cross–cousin marriage may have been preferred. Polygyny was
permitted and occurred most often among group leaders and skilled hunters. In aboriginal and early–
contact times marriage was unaccompanied by ceremony, but today is attended by a Roman
Catholic service. In the past the newly married couple resided with the bride's family until the birth
of their first child, at which time they might take up residence with the husband's family. And when
it came to divorce, it was available to both husband and wife, but was rarely done. Divorce is also
not common in today's time. Positions of leadership and authority were not there among the early
times of the Chipewyan, but individuals with unique abilities were given respect and had a great
influence. These men were usually hunting group and band leaders. ... Show more content on
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Majority of Netsilik clothing was cut from caribou fur. When it came to the Eskimo kinship, they
had the joint family system and that means that there is no difference between patrilineal and
matrilineal relatives. This system is heavily focused on the nuclear family which means it only
identifies with the parents and the siblings and the other relatives are grouped into categories. This
system is somewhat common among today's kinship systems and is widely used in western
societies. Now their political life is completely different from the Chipewyan because they didn't
have any leaders. They also didn't have chiefs, honored elders or judges so there was no label for
them. Each group had a sense of unity and the only hostility in this was within different

Nuclear Families In The 1950s
Understanding 1950s, families is a possibility of a new form of family in order to understand the
family dynamics of new modern family and gender role specialization. In 1950 families have
showed greater practice of gender role style in family social function setting. Various factors that led
to strong affinity of the understanding of family dynamics among sociologists. Women being viewed
as home makers and men as breadwinners in a family set up both enjoying their predefined norms
on roles. Thus, this paper seeks to provide a greater insight of family dynamics to understand the
ideology behind gender role specialization as depicted by Parsons and Bales.
In 1950s, various factors increased dependence of women in marriage which was contrary ... Show
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Relations among the members of the nuclear families diminishes and creates an unstable emotional
intensity. Increased divorce rates and intense family relationship are no longer there leading to
unstabilized relations. Increased legal protections against discrimination among women, increased
access to high education and high–ranking jobs with increased women movement to put across their
rights to crush the gender role style that was dominant in men. It is proved by the second shift where
women are happy with paid employment rather than the stay at home mothers. Secondly, decrease in
alcohol and tranquilizers as a form of satisfaction prior seen in the 1950s used by homemakers due
to limited life

Elements Of A Nuclear Family In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis
Most familial conflicts can almost always be solved with communication, a seemingly simple idea;
yet, society has manipulated this concept into an exceedingly strenuous activity. What makes this
task so unbearable and problematic? Is it simply the inability to comprehend and acknowledge
human emotion or could it be a deep–rooted fear of unacceptance? Franz Kafka utilizes the
profound elements of a nuclear family and alters these stereotypes in order to expose countless
faults within a disjointed bloodline in Kafka's novella Metamorphosis.
A nuclear family: a mother, father, sister, and brother the basic outline of every family worldwide.
The Samsa's fit within this shell yet many grow and change and need new shells. Gregor attempts to
follow in the footsteps of his family and the historical stereotypes during Gregor's early adulthood.
By having to obtain a job and provide for the entire family can be seen as a major responsibility and
Gregor seems overwhelmed hence his chance in physical and emotional demeanor. Kafka states:
"He felt very proud that he had been able to provide such as a life in so nice an apartment for his
parents and his sister. But what now if all the peace, the comfort, the contentment were to come to a
horrible end?" (Kafka 22). Gregor embodies the typical young man in a growing home where the
men are sent out to work and the women stay home to cook, clean, and assist the men. Kafka
continues to add pressure on Gregor with feelings of guilt, pride,

Subcategories Of The Nuclear Family
Sociologists agree to an extent, there are different subcategories of sociologists who have different
views on the family. First, what is meant by the typical family is (in terms of sociological studies)
the nuclear family. The nuclear family make reference to a mum, dad (whom are preferably married
but at least cohabiting), one or more children (usually two or three). The nuclear family is
occasionally referred to as a cereal packet family in a satirical or mocking way, this is by the
sociologists who think the typical family is a destructive or even a complete fallacy.
Firstly, there are different family types other than the nuclear one. The first one is a lone parent
family, this is when a child lives with one parent usually due to relationship

Nuclear Family Systems Theory
Leroy understands that his treatment would hinder him from working the long hours that he is used
to. Leroy is also considering the doctor appointments, which will cost money and time. According to
the family systems theory, Leroy would not see this as being in the best interest for his family. Dr.
Bowen would also suggest that Leroy has a role that he has to fulfil (Priest, 2015). The role that
Leroy has in the family is that of a provider. Leroy believes that his diagnosis of prostate cancer,
will in some way impact his role as a provider. The level of incapacitation is also another aspect of
the diagnosis to be taken into consideration. If Leroy's diagnosis of prostate cancer does not inhibit
him from fulfilling his role as a provider, he may be more accepting of the illness. The nuclear
family system may experience a change in relationship patterns, depending on the level of
incapacitation (Priest, 2015). Tiffany would have to embrace a new role in the family, if Leroy now
has to be dependent on her. This would be difficult for not only Leroy, but for Tiffany as well. This
major life incident has caused both of them to possibly reverse roles in the family (Priest, 2015).
This may also cause marital conflict, which is a theme in the family systems theory. The idea of
marital conflict can be thought of as tension ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A normal response according to the social learning theory may cause Leroy to see his illness as a
test from God. Faith is an important instrument in the community of low income African American
males (Maliski, 2010). This could also be understood under the social learning theory. Social
learning theory asserts that this is behavior, that is learned from the community, and environment.
The faith that Leroy displays can be seen as learned behavior. This learned behavior that Leroy
displays, can greatly affect the way he approaches his

Nuclear Families Research Paper
In society, there are many nuclear families that have different ways of raising their children due to
social classes that remain present. Nuclear families consist of a pair of adults and their children. Due
to the different social classes parents take into account different childrearing methods, cultural logic,
and religion affiliation. When raising their children families in a higher Asantie–Yeboah 5 class, take
care of their children through concerted cultivation. They put their children in numerous activities
such as club teams which control a family's life, particularly for the mothers. The reason behind this
is because parents believe these activities are important skills to learn for their children. Families
also in a higher class talk to their children to discipline them. Parents in the working class and poor
class apply natural growth. Many parents of the working class provide love, food, and safety
anticipating their children will advance and succeed. They do not focus on developing their
children's special talents. For this reason, working class children have more free time and better
relationships with their extended families. Working–class and poor also use ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Religion occupies a central role in nuclear families in a lower class as they use it as a way of life
that assists families to survive life within a social inequality. Religious beliefs continue to influence
families' child–rearing practices. Many children from nuclear families have parents that are very
spiritual in child–rearing; their families rely on the principles underlying their spiritual beliefs.
Families that are religiously affiliated use advice from the teachings of religious books when
discouraging behavior such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, consuming illegal drugs and
having sexual relationships (Ochieng 2013) and said that spiritual meditation is a form of relaxation
that promotes good mental

The Effects Of Nuclear Family On Children
As Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model suggests, the nuclear family typically provides the first
and most important environment in the child's early development (Siegler, Eisenberg, DeLoache,
Saffran, & Graham, 2014). However, due to its strong influence on the child and to the intensity of
early attachments, any disruptions to the family's structure threatens to trigger a series of "risk
factors" that most children are not equipped to handle (Kostelnik, Soderman, Whiren, Rupiper, &
Gregory, 2012). Amongst these disruptions, parental divorce and family reconstitution present
stressful and disturbing challenges for children. Young children –in particular five years and
younger– are in greater risk of failing to cope with such circumstances, as their cognitive and social
development has not yet provided them with the necessary mechanisms to understand and handle
the complexities of the circumstances (Elliott & Richards, 1991; Kostelnik et al., 2012). Under these
events parental support becomes vital, and an array of tools that parents can use to help their
children to successfully navigate these difficult situations is available. In many countries, picture
books addressing divorce, remarriage, and stepfamilies are often used as effective useful venues to
aid children cope with these stressful situations (Mo, 2007). In light of these statements, and using
the impact of "family conflict and marital dysfunction" in children's emotional development as a
framework (Kostelnik et

The Nuclear Family
The idea of the nuclear family was highly valued in the American culture during the 1950s, where
romantic love was the central reason for marriage in America; however, love in modern America is
not enough to make a marriage last. Likewise, the 1950s was the time for many American marriages
to undergo many socioeconomic changes including the rise of the gender minority in the workplace.
Due to these developments, marriage is under enormous socioeconomic pressures have given the
rise to family structures such as those headed by single parents, multigenerational families and
gender roles. The 1950s nuclear family was defined as a heterosexual married couple with children.
In addition, social expectations were attached to this idea which was the predictable gender roles of
male breadwinner and a female homemaker. The 1950s definition of a nuclear family has for long
been engraved as an ideology in America society, but we have failed to see that the contemporary
America has experienced dissolution of the 1950s nuclear family. The gradual dissolution of the
1950s nuclear family has had both positive and negative social effects. However, the problem of the
1950s ideology of a family is no longer functional or representative of the contemporary American
society.
In order to address the negative effects and strive for more positive outcomes, contemporary
American must attempt to understand that family structure are in continuous change, that there is not
one ideal way to define

Examining the View that the Traditional Nuclear Family is...
Examining the View that the Traditional Nuclear Family is in Decline
When evaluating the view that the traditional nuclear family (of two opposite sex married parents
living in a household that contains only them and their own dependant children), is in decline, I will
be taking various pieces of research and evidence from Sociologists, Journalists and other sources,
into consideration in order to try to determine how true this view is. The nuclear family would
appear to be found internationally and would be described as 'universal' by Murdock, varying in
popularity from country to country, however I will be concentrating mainly in the UK. The idea that
the 'traditional' nuclear family is in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the beginning of the twentieth century the role of the average woman and family was very
different to that of the later twentieth century, most women would stay at home with their children
while their husbands went out to earn money. It was at this time that the average amount of children
per woman was six; recent statistics show that it has dropped, alarmingly, to 1.7 (National Office Of
Statistics), with many women choosing not to have children at all. Mike Featherstone (1991)
proposed that in modern day living, individuals have a great deal more choice and freedom over
how to live their lives. They do not have to battle with the parts of their lifestyle that in pre–
industrial Britain would have stopped them from doing as they wish. He suggested that it would not
be unsurprising at all if family types did not become more diverse and less obscure family types
would not rise. This would indeed appear to be so; there is evidence to show that the extended
family is increasing at the moment due to the problem of a lack of care homes, rising directly from
the increase in life expectancy. This coupled with the idea that teenage pregnancies are on the rise
(UK has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe!) would suggest that a slight rise in the
extended family would be almost definite. It can also be seen that more people are

The Role Of The Nuclear Family During The Industrial...
During the industrial revolution, the nuclear family was considered the norm, consisting of a mother
and father living together with two biologically related children. Traditionally, the wife stayed home
as the homemaker and looking after the children without pay. While the husband earns the money
through working at a job away from the home. Furze (2015 p. 174) states that 'in the 1940s and
1950s, many sociologists and the general communities of Western countries such as Australia and
New Zealand considered the traditional nuclear family the most widespread and ideal family form.'
Additionally, backing this statement up Fletcher (2017) claims that 'from a functionalist perspective
the nuclear family is ideally suited to meet the necessities

The Meltdown Of Nuclear Families In The 1900s
A nuclear family is a family composed of a married father and mother and their children. This type
of family became increasingly popular following the industrial age in the 1900s. The nuclear family
soon became the norm as people transferred from large kin groups to smaller independent families
(Pulsipher, 2015). This posed a problem in the beginning because close relatives no longer played a
role in raising children and no longer had anyone to look after them in old age as they did when kin
groups were common. However, as time went on, nuclear families faced challenges and soon began
to fallout as a result of changes in couples. The meltdown of nuclear families are largely impart by
couples not getting married or by couples getting divorced. ... Show more content on
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In order for a family to be considered nuclear, the parents must be married and have children
However, the number of unmarried couples in the United States nearly doubled in the 1900s as it
grew more common for people to not further their relationships. This caused the number of homes
consisting of nuclear families to reach their lowest level––"falling from 45% of all households in
1960 to just 25.6% last year" (Feder, 2001). Not only did it grow common for couples to not get
married, divorce grew common. This influenced the number of children who, instead of being a part
of a nuclear family, were a part of a single– parent family. In fact, due to divorce, 43% of American
children spent at least part of their childhood in a single–parent family in 1996 (Feder, 2001). Don
Feder, author on human events, explains that these shifts in attitude towards marriage and nuclear
families has been caused by changes in cultural influences such as media. In the early 1900s,
marriage and family were regarded as an integral part of existence, but as time went on the
importance of nuclear families

Imagery In Nuclear Family
"Nuclear Family" is a phrase that is very loaded with imagery. For me, this phrase is very heavily
associated with the fifties, a time of pastel hardware, and boys and girls playing on the lawn as mom
cooks dinner and waits for dad to come home from the office, imagery that is often reinforced by
TV shows and movies set in this time. This picturesque family is so descriptive of modern American
families, not just from what it shows, but also from what it leaves out. There's never any People of
Color in these portrayals, nor anyone on the LGBT+ spectrum. America is a nation for white
heterosexual families, and they view any attempt to change this as an attack on their livelihood. The
nuclear family set the new "normal" and those that fell outside ... Show more content on
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The typical portrayal is obviously very heteronormative. This was a time of the beginnings of the
LGBT movement, so it's not as if this just wasn't a mainstream concept yet. It was willfully left out.
The Kinsey Scale was a test created by Alfred Kinsey in 1948 that was used to determine whether
someone was homosexual or heterosexual, and to what degree as well. Many would consider this to
be ahead of its time, not only addressing issues like homosexuality, but also bi– and pansexuality,
which some people still struggle to conceptualize. Despite there being an understanding of this level
even back then, it begs the question why they were left out of any portrayals of "family" or "home".
This often led to issues within the community, such as Alison Bechdel's father Bruce, as is detailed
in her 2006 graphic memoir, Fun Home. In it, she addresses her father's struggle to accept his
homosexuality and his struggle with her being able to be out. "Sometimes, when things were going
well, I think my father actually enjoyed having a family. Or at least, the air of authenticity we leant
to his exhibit. A sort of still life with children." (Bechdel 13) In this we see her father struggling with
his own sexuality as he tries to meet that expectation of a traditional family even though he knows
he doesn't fit within

The Effects Of Nuclear Family On Modern Society
Over the past few decades social scientists have been engaged debates about family change and
influences in modern society, with one of the main themes being the strength and relevance of the
nuclear family. Those who believe that the nuclear family unit is breaking down often site the fact
that social structures holding up the nuclear family, such as marriage, are collapsing 'The chances in
some societies are now less that 50–50... that a child will live continuously to adult–hood with both
natural parents' (Popenoe 1999). Those on the opposite side believe that the concept of a nuclear
family is a traditional and naturally occurring phenomenon that passes from generation to
generation. Evidence exists on both sides of the debate leading to conclusion that while the nuclear
family is not as prevailing in modern society as it was in the past but still holds a certain level of
relevance.
Due to the question being asked being debated over is based on the prevalence of a concept breaking
down in modern society it is important to understand where the concept came from and where it
stands in today's society. The concept of a nuclear family, which can be defined as a 'social unit
composed of two parents and one or more children' (Dictionary.com), is viewed as the standard
modern family unit and this concept and perception emerged around the industrial revolution
(Bengtson, 2001). While families in history prior to the industrial revolution upheld these standards
marriage was

The United States And Nuclear Families
Though most people would believe that the majority of families in the United States are nuclear
families, because that is what is considered to be normal, that is untrue. The majority of families in
the U.S. deviate from nuclear households. My family is no different. My family has not been
considered nuclear for several years now. My family constists of my mother, stepfather, my older
stepbrother, me, my younger stepbrother, and my younger biological brother. As for extended
family, I still have all four of my grandparents, one great grandmother, three aunts, three uncles, and
several cousins. Each of these people all still play a role in my life, and I am very close to them. The
people I live with–which are my mom, step father, brother, and youngest step brother, play the most
significant roles in my life. They especially play the biggest parts when it comes to rule creation and
enforcement and use of power within the family–more so than my extended family do in those
areas. As with most families, the parents in my house were in charge of rule creation and
enforcement in my household. When my step father first moved in to our house this was a big issue.
His parenting style was extremely different from what my mom and dad's was. I was fifteen and my
brother was eleven when my mom married our stepdad; it was a hard age to be making an
adjustment to a whole new parenting style. Our family went from a loving environment where the
children had freedom as long as they proved

1970s Nuclear Family
The 'new family' of the 1970s grew up as children with no father figure, did not remember wartime
hardships and saw family life depicted through American movies. Civil law changed the system to
nuclear family through the exposure of Western influence that was seen as the ideal for the Japanese
family. The concept of nuclear family has influenced the increase in "singles, martial couples and
single–parent units" which by Nonoyama (2000) sees this as a disorganization of the framework of
nuclear structure. Imamura (1990) discusses that love marriages were encouraged with the influence
of the western culture, where young people saw to reconsider the ways of courtship before marriage,
which decreased numbers of traditional arranged marriages. This

Is The Nuclear Family Means?
What is considered the nuclear family? Everyone in society has their own definition of what the
nuclear family means to them and raises an interesting question as to which definition is said to be
true? Society has constructed their own set of beliefs and terms in their way of living that the
nuclear family can literally mean, and be constructed by almost anything. Depending on people
situations, their built up version of what a family means to them can consists of uncles, aunts,
grandparents, and even pets, just to be brief. This is where the term can become problematic. Since
there can be many interpretations of what the real nuclear family means, and what it consists of, the
state ultimately plays a big role into determining whether or not citizens, can be a family. Simply
put, the state decides if a family can in turn, become nuclear. Using a variety of evidence, this essay
will first define what a nuclear family is, and how it is socially constructed, based on what the
majority of society believes it to mean. Followed by this it will explain how the nuclear family is a
historically specific institution. Finally, it will focus on how the nuclear family is constructed by the
Canadian state, and will raise such questions as to why the state has the determining say on whether
or not citizens can construct their version of a nuclear family.
What is a Nuclear Family? As stated previously there are many definitions to what a nuclear family
can mean to someone. To get a

The Nuclear Family
American families have changed tremendously over the past years. Families did not only face the
change in their status or social behavior, but also faced a change in their lifestyle. Now there are
different types of families with different types of norms and values. Families are socially, ethnically
and very expressively diverse than ever before. Back in the time, the role family was totally
different, the parents were more strict than today. It could be said that the nuclear family is the
nucleus of a society that reproduces through this type of family. what is the meaning of the nuclear
family?. Basically, the nuclear family has as main characteristic that it is a concept of family that is a
role and perfect familiar group that conforms ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
33). In addition, today we can see so many families that does not fit in the traditional family. Now
most of the families both parents work and take care about the kids and the households. It is
common to see unmarried couples with two or three children. For example, my parents started a
relationship when they were eighteen years old, after two years my mom got pregnant. My older
brother born and three years later my parents got married. In that time was not very common to see
families like mine, but my parents did not care about it. Nevertheless, some people still think that
the nuclear family is the same that was in the 50's, but the truth is that the time is changing and a lot
of people are focusing more in the modern families. Back in the time, being a single parent was
considered wrong. It was completely different and out of the typical and traditional nuclear family.
But now single parenthood is considered more acceptable. One parent families may still result from
the death of a significant other, but now also come about through decisions or divorce. For example,
I have so many aunts that are single moms, some of they are divorced, others are widows, and a few
of them does not know who are the father of their kids. I grew up in Guatemala and this is so
common to happen in my country. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible, but children
of single parents can be just as progressive with emotional, social and behavioural skills as those
with two

Pros And Cons Of A Nuclear Family
1).Write at least four pros and cons for each type of family discussed
Nuclear Family
Nuclear Family is a household consisting of father, mother and children. Four pros and cons of this
type of family are as follows:
PROS
Strength and Stability
Two parent families, whether married or common law relationship, tend to be more stable. Partners
or spouses are role model of a loving, caring and supportive relationship for their children. This will
transform into future accomplishment by teaching children how to seek out positive relationships
and interact well with others. These children will benefit from watching their parents work together
to solve problems, assign domestic responsibilities and support each other through positive and
negative ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Four pros and cons of this type of family are as follows:
PROS
Discipline
This should be easier with two adults but the truth is that it is often easier with only one particularly
if the other one fails to agree with the type of discipline involved.
Competition
Most times mother and father are in competition for a his or her child love but if the other partner is
not involved in the child's life or less interested in bringing up that child, the single parent can face
no significant competition for their child's love.
Individual Time
Each child needs his or her time alone with their parent because nothing says I love you like parents
spending time with their children. When a parent is by themselves, it is a challenge to find time
alone with each child sufficient to meet the needs, but it is worth it!
Peaceful Atmosphere
Most single parents are in that situation because they have left a family which has looked more like
a conflict zone. While any class of parenting may be stressful and may cause hostility within the
family, hostility between mother and father can often be the most destructive, so one advantage of
parenting alone is having a peaceful atmosphere in the

The Creation of the Romanticized Nuclear Family
One of the most romanticized family institutions in North American is the nuclear family. Although
the nuclear family was created to appear as the 'traditional' and normative ideal, it has never been
the reality for all families (Kimmel & Holler, 2011, 154). The nuclear family was created after the
end of the Second World War when women were taken out of the workforce and placed back into
their homes. "Men and women embraced this nostalgia, marrying and having children early, and
divorcing little. The 1950s family model they created was almost immediately enshrined as the most
'natural' and healthiest form possible" (Kimmel & Holler, 2011, 185). In Kimmel and Holler (2011),
they define the nuclear family of the 1950s as "a lifelong sexually exclusive, heterosexual
monogamous marriage, based on affection and companionship, in which there is a sharp division of
labour with the female as full time housewife and the male as primary provider and ultimate
authority'" (Kimmel & Holler, 2011, 141). It is the family structure where women stay at home, do
household chores and child care, while men work and be the sole breadwinner for the family. In
North America, the 'traditional' family was characterized by: high rates of marriage (and young age
at marriage), high fertility, and low and stable rates of divorce – 'was the product of a convergence
of an unusual series of historical, demographic and economic circumstances unlikely to return
again', in the words of two leading family

Family Analysis Essay On Nuclear Family
Family Analysis A nuclear family consists of a mother, father and children living in one household.
Every nuclear family has advantages and disadvantages in them. The advantages are strength and
stability, financial stability which equals more opportunity, consistency which means lucrative
behavior, health benefits, conflict resolution and better communication skills. In my nuclear family
we incorporate these advantages to become a better family and to be brought closer together.
Strength and stability refers to a child that is born into marriage tend to have more stability than
children born into cohabitation. Spouses that are committed to each other teach their children to lead
positive and healthy relationships and interact with others. consistency for behavior successes refers
to a nuclear family that provides their children with consistency in providing care. Children who
exemplify positive behavior have more consistency in their lives rather than children with no
consistency. The main goal of consistency in a nuclear family is to retain positive relationships and
build a foundation for future goals. Health benefits suggest that a happily married biological parents
have better social, emotional and physical health than other children. Happily married parents are
less likely to abuse their children opposed to parents that aren't happily married. Nuclear families
that have good communication skills have fewer obstacles and disturbances. Although, we live in

The Problem Of Nuclear Family
Imagine being on the cusp of adulthood during the 1950s when the term "nuclear" was becoming
more common in regards to the matter of families. The idea of that a nuclear family, a family
consisting of a man, his wife, and their children under one roof, is the only type of family that
should exist was often shoved into the faces of young Americans. The nuclear family had been
around for centuries, only truly developing the title of "nuclear" in the early twentieth century. It's
the concept that any family that doesn't fit the structure laid down by the idea isn't a family that
should be welcomed into society. During the 1950s, this took a step farther. It was expected for
someone to marry once they reached a certain age and many people considered something to be
wrong with someone if they weren't. . Though it is of note that not even before the 1950s had
passed, changes had already begun. Its best for families to move out of the narrow–minded structure
it had before that isolated and secluded several groups. The positive changes show up in many
different forms over the years, whether in movements, expansions of personal freedoms and choices,
and/or in the most basic extension of open–mindedness in new generations. Movements of various
strengths and sizes funneled into a dynamic shift of responsibilities in relationships. Back in the
1950s example, it was commonplace for the father to work while the wife took care of the house and
children. Though early in the 1960s, the

The Decline Of The Nuclear Family
Assignment 5: The Decline of the Nuclear Family In college classes, the traditional nuclear family is
defined as a family consisting of one or both parents and their dependent children in a single family
unit without any extended relatives (Kendall, 2013). Some sociological perspectives suggest that
any departure from what is known as the "traditional," or nuclear, family indicates a social problem,
while others maintain that the definition of family has simply evolved beyond the nuclear family.
Some even suggest that the social constructs of marriage and the traditional nuclear family actually
undermine the notion of community ties by discouraging any kind of extended family inclusion
(Gerstel, 2011). According to Kendall, the concept of the traditional family is rooted in kinship,
which encompasses anyone with ancestral or legal ties to the individual (2013). Interestingly, this
definition of the traditional family also includes extended family who live both in and out of the
home. However, the concept of the nuclear family does not include this extended family. Prior to
industrialization, families relied on this family for survival in many ways. Extended family members
have reduced familial strain by assisting with harvesting, child care, and other items essential to
survival. While industrialization reduced the need for reliance on extended family members in some
nations, others continue to rely and thrive on a bigger support system (Kendall, 2013). With rising

Decline Of Nuclear Families In The 20th Century
An interesting and complex modern departure from a societel norm is acting as the downfall of what
is referred to as the nuclear family. The nuclear family of a husband and wife with dependant
children, or a basic communal unit, acted as a catalyst of growth and societal stability in the United
States for quite some time. The late 20th century appeared to experience a decline in married
couples. With multifaceted forces at play, that nuclear family appears to have been destabilized by
three important societal factors: a unique shift in cultural values, difficult economical environments
and conditions, and ever changing statistics in population. The decline in the number of married
couples and nuclear families in the late 20th century ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A statistic imbalance, referred to as a marriage squeeze, appeared to effect the next generation in a
way that resulted in "... millions of baby boomers looking for husbands discovered that they were a
few million men short–that is, the supply of 22–year–old women greatly exceeded the supply of 25–
year–old men." (Cohen, 271) This delay in marriage for the future generation can simply and
mathematically explain the decline in marriage in the late 20th century. To make matters worse, the
shift in industrial jobs around large urban centers in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in a lowering of
marriage rates among lower income and african–american women; where "men without steady
employment or income potential found themselves shut out of the marriage market". (Cohen, 271).
Obviously, these issues led to lower marriage prospects for females of that

The Nuclear Family Replaced the Extended Family After...
The Nuclear Family Replaced the Extended Family After Industrialisation
Talcott Parsons believed that the nuclear family developed mainly as a result of industrialisation. He
thought that before the industry took over the functions of the family, the families were extended
units of production. This means that the work and home lives were combined and so each family
member taught another one skill for life such as education. Parsons says that the extended family
stayed together so they could provide health care for one another and look after the old people
whilst the old people looked after the young children whilst the parents were out working. They also
pursued justice on behalf of one another; if ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the first stage, the Pre–Industrial family was extended and they all lived and worked together. In
the second stage, the Early Industrial family were extended families beginning to become
geographically mobile, dying out and becoming less common. In the third stage, the Symmetrical
family was the beginning of the nuclear family, where they had split up from extended family into
father, mother, and two children.
However, there are criticisms to the functionalist view that the industrial revolution brought about
the nuclear family. Peter Laslett was a social historian who believed that pre and post industrial
families were mostly nuclear. He studied Northern Europe and found that families were not likely to
consist of a nuclear family structure, but he also found that the average size of families in Western
Europe stayed constant at 4.75 persons, which gives us reason to believe that nuclear families were
around before the industrial revolution. Laslett therefore does not agree with Parsons or Willmott
and Young, as he believes families were already nuclear pre–industry and still are today.
=====================================================================
Michael Anderson was also a social historian who agreed with Parsons because he believed that the
pre industrial families were mainly extended. He argued that the extended family was a

What Does Your Family Fit The Nuclear? Essay
Question: To what extent does your family fit the 'Nuclear' family, which is still, against the
evidence seen as the norm in Western society?
Growing up, I never really understood what a "normal" family was supposed to look like. Before I
was even born, my parents had split for good (although the were never married). I stayed primarily
with my mother, and it was just the two of us for about four years, although we stayed with others
along the way. I interviewed my mother about this time in her life and the struggles she went
through, that those in a nuclear family might not experience. When I was born, my mother already
had a college degree in education, but no teaching job. We lived with a friend of hers when I was
just a newborn baby, and we were technically homeless. She had government assistance for
childcare, and that was all at that point in time. One day, the woman we lived with at the time,
named Lee, told her about a program called WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). To give some
background on WIC, their mission statement reads "To safeguard the health of low–income women,
infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to
supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care."(1) Previously, I did
not know WIC could be used at co–ops and other grocery stores that offer an array of healthy
options. My mother explained to me that she utilized the program very efficiently though, she
1
stated, "you

Deterioration of the Nuclear Family
Deterioration of the Nuclear Family
What is a family? The meaning of family has changed throughout history. It means something
different to many people. According to the U.S. Census Bureau: "A family includes a householder
and one or more people living in the same household who are related to the householder by birth,
marriage, or adoption. All people in a household who are related to the householder are regarded as
members of his or her family. A family household may contain people not related to the householder,
but those people are not included as part of the householder's family. Thus, the number of family
households is equal to the number of families, but family households may include more members
than do families. Not all households ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"Teen Health and Wellness" expresses that the result on children ages six to eight is most profound.
It says they are old enough to realize what is happening but do not have adequate skills to deal with
the disruption. It asserts that they often feel a sense of responsibility, experience tremendous grief,
and have a pervasive sadness and yearning for the departed parent. According to this article,
adolescents' reactions to divorce include anger, a desire for a stable home, and a need for clear
boundaries between them and their parents, especially around such issues as sexuality, dating, and
household responsibilities. "Dysfunctional Family" testifies that teens that already have to deal with
their maturing bodies and minds, divorce is just an added burden (Dysfunctional Family).
There are instances where divorce is essential. In cases such as verbal or physical abuse of a spouse
or child, divorce may be the only solution. However, the negative effects of divorce have a large
impact on family structure. Divorce can be very stressful for young adult children, with a sense of
increased responsibility to their parents and a vulnerability to loyalty conflicts with both parents. In
addition, this article proclaims that young adults may experience a sense of loss of their family
home, abandonment by their parents, and a concern

Sociological Theories Of A Nuclear Family
In a sociological perspective, family is interpreted as a social group whose members are bound by
legal, biological, or emotional ties or a combination of all three. The sociological theories the
connect to this concept are functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionalism. First,
functionalism states that the family socializes children, it provides emotional and practical support
for its members, and it provides its members with a social identity. Secondly, conflict theory states
that members create disagreements, and create emotional support and comfort. Finally, symbolic
interactionism claims family members and intimate couples interact on a daily basis. "Families are
defined as a relationship by blood, marriage, or affection" (Seccombe 5). My family is a nuclear
family. A nuclear family consists of a mother, father and children living in one household. Every
nuclear family has advantages and disadvantages in them. The advantages are strength and stability,
financial stability, which equals more opportunity, consistency which means lucrative behavior,
health benefits, conflict resolution and better communication skills. In my nuclear family, we
incorporate these advantages to become a better family and to be brought closer together. Strength
and stability refers to a child that is born into marriage tend to have more stability than children born
into cohabitation. Spouses that are committed to each other teach their children to lead positive and

Stereotypes Of Women In A Nuclear Family
It is a nuclear family being "advertised" in the film. According to the chapter 1 in book, nuclear
family includes a breadwinner father, a homemade mother and children living together in and
independent household. Family structure like nuclear may have commons like: equal relationships
and democratic atmosphere, good for young people's independence, and easy to meet different
generations of different lifestyle pursuit.
The film descried the process from children back from school to prepare the dinner and wait for the
father then introduced some table manner during the "pleasant" diner time. The stereotype I noticed
is that women play the role to arrange the whole family like cooking the dinner, and providing the
family a warmer atmosphere. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Before the start of dinner, the whole family prey for the grace of the mealtime, which shows the
respect of the nature gift. And then father served mother first, which shows the equality of men and
women. Men at the time presented the gentleness and high standard civilization to the women.
While in return, everyone should wait for father finish server himself, and begin dinner after mother
begins. It could regard as another aspect of respect. As for the conversation during the meal time,
although they are following the key note as pleasant and relax, the atmosphere was actually pretty
formal and stiff. Table manner like conversation are supposed to be led by father and mother, and
family members are not encouraged to manipulate the conversation, which make others
uncomfortable. Thus noticing whether others are bored with the topic is important for the speaker.
Moreover, they are not supposed to discuss some unpleasant topics or discontent of the standard
living, at this point, children show great respect to the parent and bet thankful to the life they
provide. Besides, young generation should show respect of each other as well. No offensive remarks
assault to brothers or sisters or even outside the family cycle. I highly agree with the point narrator
said in the film that "be yourself but be the best of yourself". Being relaxed does not mean that just
be yourself regardless the negative effects of your

Social Construction Of The Nuclear Family
Additionally, the social construction of the nuclear family can be understood by the significant
changes in the laws and rights of individuals. Within a nuclear family, marriage is considered
mandatory for some individuals but its main bond is between a heterosexual male and female. As a
society, communities base a nuclear on this particular ideal but social change began. The legal
institution of marriage is not only gendered but also dictates how individuals shall live socially
accepted lives. To put it in other words the legal institution of marriage is a system that allows the
state to regulate relationships (Mule, Chapter 19 p. 182). It is important to realize that the process of
marriage for either heterosexual beings or same –sex

The Nuclear Family
Today the idea of the nuclear family being normal has changed. It is now common to see the
mixture of two families connected by a second or subsequent marriage, with one or both partners
having children from prior relationships, thereby creating half siblings. Prior to the advent of no–
fault divorce, most commonly the idea of blended families included a stepmother or stepfather and
mother or father, and stepchildren, born to one of the parents in a previous marriage. The previous
marriage had been terminated by abandonment or death and the stepparent was seen almost as a
replacement parent. With the advent of no–fault divorce and the family dynamics changing, the roles
of the parents are modified, no longer is a stepparent a near replacement for an absent or deceased
parent, but rather an addition to existing parents not part of a relationship but still on the scene.
This can create turmoil in the family as the new couple as parent and stepparent and the children and
stepchildren each try to find their own role. Some would argue it is better for the child or stepchild
to be raised in a two–parent home than a single parent family. This creates a positive environment
for the child. Conversely, as the relationship lines are not clearly defined, there is the possibility of
confusion and uncertainty for the child, as they are not certain of the role of the step parent versus
the biological parent. There is also cause for concern, as the biological dynamic of the family is

Are Nuclear Families Ever Changing
Family dynamics are ever changing. In the past, nuclear families were widely considered to be the
"typical american family", with 45% of families fitting into this category in 1960, compared to the
less than 25% of families today. There were also many differences in how the families functioned
even when compared to today's nuclear families. Job Pressures, new relationships within families,
and the different expectations for each member of a family now all prove to be admirable barriers in
family life. Today, more than ever, being part of a family presents many challenges.
One of the biggest challenges in modern day families is the increase in job related pressures. Unlike
in the past, it is not common for both the mother and father figures

Family Formation And Structure Of The Nuclear Family
Combining the multitude of factors that contribute to family formation and structure parallels to
mixing ingredients to make a soup that does not always come out with the same taste, as even with
the same contributing factors such as race, gender, and social, economic, and political pressure, one
family can greatly differ from another. The ideology of the nuclear family shape clashed with my
family's more extended and traditional family structure, and upon arrival to the United States from
Korea, initially resulted in opaque gendered behavior and thinking along with muddled male and
female constructs. As the family's stay continued, the idea and shape of the nuclear family began to
whittle away at my grandparents' and father's initial ideals, albeit at a different pace. As a result of
my grandparents directing joining the workforce and contributing, the nuclear family ideals had
little influence; on the other hand, my father, after growing up through schooling and having more in
depth experience with American culture, was more affected, and the transition into the ideology of
the nuclear family was nearly complete after having children. As my father came to be the main
breadwinner of the family, the nuclear family shape and ideology was fortified and increasingly
embraced, as my dad was pressured to provide, which promoted male dominance within the
household.
In order to comprehend and identify a family's ideals, it is important to know the structure first. My
family

The Nuclear Family Essay
The Diminishing Nuclear Family
Hadar Mustafa
Jun29, 2015
Introduction More often than not, stable and functional families serve as a prerequisite to a good
society. Hence, the society's support system for families must be flexible because needs and goals of
families vary over time (Loveless, 2007). However, nuclear families face many challenges because
parenting, child–rearing, and other economic responsibilities had to be done by two adults only
(Bowden & Smith, 2010). In this paper, we look into the development of the nuclear family: its
origin, evolution, and status today. We also look into the most influential factors that led to the
current status of nuclear families. We also look into the recommendations that represent different
values and belief systems that promote the revival of degraded idealization and decline of the
nuclear family.
The Modern Nuclear Family The development of the modern nuclear family is considered as a truly
remarkable element in the history of the human social organization. The modern nuclear family is
composed of a monogamous married couple living with their children, apart from their relatives.
The husband is working outside the home, while the wife is a full–time mother and housewife. So,
the mother's role comprises cooking for the family and looking after the kids while father's role
comprises providing for the family and performing as a role model toward the kids. Unlike the
traditional nuclear family, the nuclear

Nuclear Family
Title Page
In Hist. Perspective
Traditional Family
Modern Family
New Family Models
The Modern Nuclear Family
THE MODERN NUCLEAR FAMILY
The "nuclear", "isolated", or "restricted" family is not a recent phenomenon, but has existed in many
cultures throughout human history. Indeed, the extended family of several generations is found
mostly in relatively advanced, stable, and affluent, but not yet industrialized societies. Very
primitive and very sophisticated societies seem to prefer the nuclear family model.
However, nuclear families can vary in the degree of their isolation and restrictedness. For example,
before the Industrial Revolution the Western nuclear family was often embedded in a larger social ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In an extended family these freedoms are always restricted, because a "wrong" choice would affect
too many relatives. Thus, people who want to take full advantage of the new possibilities normally
marry late and keep their families small. However, this rule also has its exceptions. Sometimes large
families are more useful, because they can serve as a "back–up unit" by providing shelter and aid at
crucial moments. This may be especially important for lower–class individuals who try to "move
up", although the higher classes often also maintain extensive family ties. Thus, even in fully
industrialized societies one can find many men and women who appreciate the traditional extended
family or at least a large network of relatives.
Still, by and large, the closely–knit nuclear family has been dominant in Western societies for the
last several generations, and thus it has shaped the general perception of what a family should be: A
man and a woman marry for love, have two or three children, live alone by themselves in a "family
home" or apartment, and spend all their free time together. The man leaves for work in the morning,
while the woman takes care of the children and the house. She also cooks dinner and ministers to
her exhausted husband when he returns at night. Once or twice a year, at Thanksgiving or
Christmas, there is a brief, ceremonial get–together with other relatives at "Grandma 's house", but
otherwise everyone keeps

Challenges Faced By Nuclear Families In The 1950's
Nuclear family is described as then the traditional family structure which consist of two adult male
and female that are legally married and have biological children together. The nuclear family was
most popular in the 1950's and 60's. They tend to have stronger bonds because they work together
and rely on one another to overcome challenges.in this family children observe their parent
supportive and loving relationship, which help the children learn how to interact appropriately.
Children in this family are well structure and generally have more opportunity due to financial easy
and stability of two adults. Nuclear family tend to be hardier when faced with difficulty as they learn
to how solve problems together and support each other emotionally.

The Simpsons Nuclear Family Essay
In The Simpsons cartoon, the ideological construction of the nuclear family was challenged. The
nuclear family concept was debunked and exposed in this cartoon series. To begin, a nuclear family
has a variety of factors and elements which contribute to its unnatural appeal. A nuclear family is
primarily composed of a pair of heterosexual adults and their children. The nuclear family was
familiarized and primarily catered towards the white and middle–class individuals. The ideological
construction of a nuclear family is a homogenized ideology of what human kind and society should
be. The development of the nuclear family ideal was a cultural and political response to World War
II. It was a concept which perpetuated and expressed that any other form of family was
unacceptable, such as, families which were composed of a single parent, or families with parents of
the same sex. This ideal, therefore, created a false understanding of normality. Due to political
power, the nuclear family was an ideal pushed to control what was occurring in the homes of
individuals and a method of displaying the "American Dream" because people were unaware of how
such an ideal family could be created and maintained. By ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
The eighties were also referred to as, the Age of Reagan. Within the hold of the Reaganism era,
ideals and beliefs were highly publicized through media. The nuclear family concept, for instance,
held a pristine stature in media. It was a popular concept and theme reflected in various television
programs. The arrival of The Simpsons distrupted all the cultural and sociological narratives
surrounding the concept of the nuclear family. The Simpsons challenged the factors considered
necessary to be recognized as a nuclear family, and confronted the false ideals surrounding the
theme. The Simpsons went even further and displayed how the nuclear family structure is a mask
which hides a real functioning

The Decrease of the Nuclear Family
Decrease in the amount of nuclear families
There are several possible reasons for the decrease in the number of nuclear families, particularly in
the past forty years. This includes rising cohabitation, higher divorce rates, secularisation, rising
same sex relationships, more career seekers and the rise in feminism.
Firstly, a nuclear family is a family consisting of a man and woman (usually married) in a sexual
relationship with one or more children. One reason for this type of family becoming less common is
due to the rising number of divorces. Getting divorced has become much easier than in the past.
40% of all marriages end in divorce. There is much less stigma attached to divorce in modern
society so people are less afraid to do it, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Rules such as no sex before marriage direct people onto the pathway of family and would increase
the number of nuclear families. Secularisation however means people are not following rules such
as these and therefore leading to a decrease in the number of nuclear families as more people did
follow these rules in the past.
Fourthly, over the last 40 years more same sex relationships are occurring due to change in
legislation and reduce in stigma. Same sex relationships in the past were highly frowned upon and
even illegal. Linking back to secularisation, stigma has decreased on the topic of homosexuality as
most religions state same sex relationships are not allowed. So in the past more people agreed with
and followed these rules however now people are much more accepting and open about same sex
relationships. The civil partnership act of 2004 meant that gay couples could have the same rights as
married couples. This lead to a large rise in the amount of same sex relationships and as this was
increasing the amount of nuclear families started decreasing as a nuclear family cannot consist of
two people of the same sex.
Fifthly, the rise in career seeking people has risen. People who are dedicated to their work often do
not have time to sustain a relationship and settle down and have a family. This means there are less
first marriages today as the facts show. In England and wales 143,000 first marriages occurred in
2007. This is significantly

The Struggle Of Nuclear Families During The Great Depression

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