Is the nuclear family the ideal model for families in Britain?

by jbahia321 (student)

Is the nuclear family the ideal model for families in Britain

The definition of a nuclear family is a family unit that consists of a mother, father and their children, who all live together. It can be argued that the nuclear family is no longer the ideal model but some sociologists, like Murdock and Talcott Parsons, would argue that the nuclear family is the ideal model. The three different types of sociologists; functionalists, feminists and new right all have different views on the family and its importance.

Functionalists such as Murdock and Parsons would say that the nuclear family is the ideal form of a family. Murdock felt that all families fulfill four functions. The first function being sexual which is where married adults enjoy a healthy sex life which prevents them having affairs and ensures children are raised by their natural parents. The second function is reproductive which involves making the next generation. The third function is economic, by this Murdoch means providing food and shelter. Ideally the man will go out to work and the woman will look after the house and children. The fourth function is educational, by this Murdoch means socialization which is the process of learning the norms and values of society. This shows the functionalists favor the nuclear family, they feel this provides children with a male and female role model and it also provides socialization from two parents. Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is the one best suited to the wider needs of society. Murdoch’s view however is criticized for being too narrow; it doesn’t take in to account single parent or gay families. This view is also criticized by feminists due to the idea of different gender roles. Feminists point out that the family tends to benefit men more than women. Functionalists also prefer marriage to co-habitation as it is seen to be more stable however, at the moment there is a decrease in the amount of people getting married and a rise in co-habiting families this suggests the idea of nuclear family is dying out in a way as it isn’t a particularly secure nuclear family. The new right movement suggests that the nuclear family is the only one which is acceptable for the society.

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A recent statistic has shown that divorce is increasing in the UK this suggests that the nuclear family is indeed dying out, and no longer the ideal form of family. There is also a significant rise in the amount of single parent families; in 2007 the Office for National Statistics said children in the UK were three times more likely to live in one-parent households than they were in 1972. This suggests an increase in the amount of single parent families in the UK and therefore suggests that single parent families are becoming more frequent. It is also proved that other families that are not nuclear also work. Another alternative family to the nuclear family that also works is the matrifocal family, which is a type of single parent family often found in urban communities and arguably more common amongst Afro-Caribbean groups. The maternal grandmother and male relatives offer support. The idea of two families in two different societies, and both ideas work suggests the nuclear family is not the norm in certain regions of the world. The gay/lesbian family is becoming increasingly more common. The gay/lesbian family is becoming more socially accepted therefore due to this it is becoming more frequent within the UK and other parts of the world. Extended families also add to the suggestion that the nuclear family is no longer the ideal model for families.

It could be argued that the nuclear family has only been the norm since after the industrial revolution, and this therefore has made family’s drift away from their extended families due to the requirement and need to make money. This therefore makes the family move from wherever they were situated with their extended family, to a more urban area with more work available. Some sociologists argue that the nuclear family has changed in order to meet the needs of society. This could be due to the change in “family values.”

To conclude, there are key reasons for why people feel the nuclear family is no longer the ideal form of family , and there are reasons for why it is considered ideal is well. Functionalists and the New Right movement believe that the nuclear family is the best family to have and in some cases the only accepted family however due to changing social conditions families such as single parent families and gay/lesbian families are becoming more socially accepted, this therefore shows that other families do exist and statistics show that these families are on the increase.

Is the nuclear family the ideal model for families in Britain?

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