TITLE – NUCLEAR FAMILY OF 21ST CENTURY

NAME - SINCHITA SAHA

DEPARTMENT – HISTORY HONS

SUBJECT CODE – SOCG CC/GE-1

SEMESTER – FIRST

REGISTRATION NUMBER –

ROLL NUMNBER –

COLLEGE – LORETO COLLEGE, KOLKATA

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 CONTENTS PAGE NUMBERS

1) INTRODUCTION ……………... 3
2) OBJECTIVE ……………… 3
3) RATIONALE ……………. 3
4) REVIEW OF LITERATURE ……….. 4
5) DISCUSSION ……………. 5
6) CONCLUSION …………… 6
7) REFERENCES …………….. 7

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 INTRODUCTION

A Nuclear Family, elementary family or conjugal family is a family group consisting of parents
and their children, typically living in one home residence. It is in contrast to a single-parent
family, the larger extended family, or a family with more than two parents. Family is one of
the major universal institutions that exercise certain control over its members and the society.
Events of huge historical significance such as the industrial revolution influenced the family
life by making off the female sphere from male sphere of work. This term paper seeks to
explore the difference between sociological and common sense perspective in observing the
nuclear family of 21st century. It focuses further on the changing of class and disintegration
from joint family, in nuclear family of the 21st century.

According to August Comte, Sociology is the discipline that attempts to

understand the forces outside us that shape our lives, interests, and personalities. On the other
hand, Common sense is defined as routine knowledge that people have of their everyday world
and activities.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this term paper is to compare between the sociological and common sense
perspective in nuclear family of the 21st century.

RATIONALE

Reason for choosing this topic is to find out what has caused changes in the nuclear family if
any. This term paper further explores the effect of global changes in the nuclear families and
as a result, the entire society.

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REVIEW OF LITERATURE

An extensive review of literature was necessary to obtain information about this particular
research topic.

A number of eminent sociologists have conducted researches in this area. My case study
considers what is widely regarded as the largest revision in thinking about the history of the
family – the complete overthrow of what William J. Goode (1970), sociologist most credited
with its rejection, has derisively called “the classical family of western nostalgia”. Kertzer and
Hogan (1988) have aptly summarized the chief elements of the interpretation overturned by
the revisionists: “Until recently, the popular image of western family history pictured people
as living in large extended family units that had multiple functions. With the advent of
industrialization, it was thought, this system was transformed into one characterized by small,
nuclear family units having one specialized functions.”

Within the sociology of the family, the concept of “family power” has
increasingly come to play a major role in interactional analyses of the nuclear family unit.
Skolnick and Skolnick (1971), in their directional essay entitled “Rethinking the Family,”
have stated, “Perhaps the surest key to understanding the problems of the nuclear family is the
concept of power”. However, research involving family power dimensions has seemingly
plateaued with few recent conceptional or methodological innovation. In fact, a considerable
number of family sociologists are arguing for the abandonment of the concept of “family
power” for a more empirically grounded nomenclature. This article proposes to examine the
present status of family power literature and to offer suggestions for a redirection of future
theory and research.

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DISCUSSION

According to the institute for family studies, the nuclear family allowed for more flexibility in
terms of career moves, which impact a familial shift in American during Industrial Revolution
and made way for the middle class to form. At that time, industrial economic booms and raising
wages made it possible for young parents to afford their own homes without living with
extended family members. Better healthcare bolstered the nuclear family, as elderly members
became more self-sufficient and independent for decades after their children were grown. The
nuclear family of 21st century has evolved over time suiting the global circumstances and global
demands.

Disintegration From Joint Family

From the sociological perspective, sociologists stated that disintegration of the joint family into
nuclear family is nothing but assumption. Surveys conducted by eminent sociologists reflect
that the average household size in the early 19th century in India was 4.9. Hence, assumption is
not accepted. Sociological survey establishes the fact that early 19th century was characterized
by simple and small households as it is today.

From the common sensical point of view, the process of urbanization and modernization that
has triggered the breakdown of joint family and paved way for the formation of nuclear
families. Urbanization helps the growth of cities with huge immigrants due to job opportunities
and lack of space promotes nuclear family. On the other hand modernization is held responsible
for introducing industrial mindset among men by removing out agricultural mindset which
promotes going out for work and away from family.

CLASS

From sociological perspective, differences in class reacting to family patterns exist. As per
sociological survey reflects that working class parents might not be religious yet they
disapprove of norms that have been accepted by the middle class parents such as relationships
between marriage and living-in relations.

From the common sensical point of view, differences in class do not make a great deal about
changing family patterns. It is assumed that particular age of groups will react in their own
way. As the result, the old group of people will not agree the change and be against of it. The
young group of people assumed to be very fond of them and lastly, the middle age people will
be stuck in between and try to adjust throughout their lives.

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CONCLUSION
After completing the term paper it can be observed that there is a difference in the sociological
and common sensical perspective of the viewing of nuclear family of 21st century. The nuclear
family is thought to be disintegration from joint family whereas in reality it is nothing more
than another form of the joint family responding to the changing of times. Another one, there
also exists huge class differences in accepting family patterns and religion has been found to
be not necessary cause for it.

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REFERENCES

Giddens, A. (2017). Sociology. Wiley Publishers, New Delhi.

McDonald, G.W. (1977). Family Power: Reflection and Direction. Pacific Sociological
Review 20 (4), Pp 607-621, Florida State University.

Smith, D. Scott. (1993). Social Science History 17 (3), Pp 325-353, Cambridge University
Press.