Essay Sample on Nuclear Family

Families in America have evolved dramatically over the years, and some are unsure whether this is for the better or for the worse. There is a recurrent discussion about whether a nuclear or extended family is better for a child's mental and physical health, as well as how the child matures and adapts to society. Sources A,D, and E  all gradually support the fact that the ever-changing form of family has had a beneficial impact on society.

To begin with, the traditional nuclear family does not serve the children's best interests; when parents divorce, the entire family is divided. The child has no one to turn to after their parents split, there is no insurance for the child, and they have to deal with their own personal issues by themselves. “A detached nuclear family, by contrast, is an intense set of relationships among, say, four people. If one relationship breaks, there are no shock absorbers. In a nuclear family, the end of the marriage means the end of the family as it was previously understood.”(Source A). Without a doubt, the ideal form of family to have around your children is an extended family. Any void left by a death or departure can be filled by others in the family, however the death or departure of a parent in a nuclear family might have a negative impact on the mental health of the children.”If a relationship between a father and a child ruptures, others can fill the breach. Extended families have more people to share the unexpected burdens”(Source A). The evolution of families from the original nuclear to extended has shown immense growth in that generation's mental health. 

Secondly, the single parent household gives the child an advantage over other children. The child must face adversity that causes them to mature faster and earlier than they should, which may have slight repercussions for a small group of people, but for the most part, it gives the child a significant advantage over other children their age.. “, being a single parent can be beneficial for them because they will get to experience first-hand what it means to be more responsible. “(Source E). Without the constant evolution of families there will be no such thing as single parent family, which means 65 percent of the generation today would not have that step ahead in maturity and responsibility over those who come from nuclear families.”According to the sociologist Wendy Wang, 65 percent of multigenerational families include a single parent.”(Source D).