Nuclear Family Issues - Essay Example

Module Module ID: Multiple Topics Endogamy and Exogamy Endogamy simply refers to the concept of the individual’s getting married to the person(s) belonging to his own racial and ethnic group or background. On the other hand, exogamy means marrying the person of some other ethno-racial group or community. For instance, if a Chinese marries the person coming of the yellow race of Southeast Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, it will be endogamy. Similarly, if a German enters into marital-knot with an Asian, the nature of the marriage will be called exogamy. Hence, all kinds of inter-racial marriages, including white-black and Hispanic-Caucasian etc, come under the definition of exogamy. President Obama’s father was an African American, while his mother belonged to white racial group; consequently, the marriage was a true example of exogamy in nature. It is fact beyond suspicion that the world has turned into a small global world, which has encouraged the migration and settlement of the people belonging to pole-apart regions to the developed and prosperous states. As a result, their inter-mixing and subsequent acculturation has popularized the idea of exogamy to a great extent. Although inter-racial marriages have many blessings, as they have turned out to be supportive in respect of decreasing the gulf between the divergent ethnic groups, yet marrying with the person of one’s own race appears to be more beneficial one in the long run. One of the most astounding reasons behind endogamy includes the similarity of social and cultural backgrounds, which proves helpful in fast understanding of the couples. Secondly, the children of mixed races are aptly looked down upon, as no one looks ready to adopt them as the member of their ethnic group. Thirdly, it has aptly been observed that almost all racial groups, including white, brown, black and yellow ones, unconsciously maintain prejudice and bias against others, and seldom accept the members of other races as their equivalent. It is particularly the case with the Jews, white Anglo Saxon population (WASP) and Arabs, all of which consider themselves to be superior to others. Thus, this purported superiority complex carries a state of conflict between the spouses, and they require several years to come to terms finally. Reasons behind the Rise of Singlehood The studies reveal that advent of tremendous and marvelous technological revolution in the modern era has wide opened multiple opportunities of bringing the young, middle-aged and old individuals closer to one another in its wake. Inclusion of millions of dating websites has made the search and selection of partner and soul-mate quite easier, fast and comprehensive. As a result, one can meet and develop long-term and short term relationships with the males and females of his/her choice through the internet and other communication devices. Somehow, the rise in singlehood observes an upward trend even the revolutionary alterations and developments have been introduced in the exploring of companions, partners and spouses. The theorists find various reasons behind the upsurge of singlehood in modern times. One of the most dominant reasons behind the popularity of singlehood includes the high divorce rates during the second half of the last century onward. Since a significant number of the present-day adults comes of the broken homes and have been brought up under single parenthood or by the step-parent(s), they view isolated life far better than the situation that brings imbalances and bitterness in the form of broken homes and their children. Popenoe (1999) has also declared the children from broken homes less successful, least law-abiding and least confident in nature; singlehood has been in vogue in the contemporary era. Similarly, the child abuse and molestation at the hands of step-parents, uncles and even real parents and siblings has also created fears and perils in the hearts of the individuals. Moreover, fraud and cheating at the hands of lovers have also added their share in discouraging the people to get married. Moreover, constant price hike, unemployment, and uncertain political, social and economic conditions also mitigate the trends of marriage in the present age. Compare and Contrast Cohabitation and Marriage Cohabitation simply refers to developing of sexual relationship generally between two persons without entering into marital status. Consequently, cohabitation could be stated as a substitute for the traditional institution of marriage, where, unlike married couple, both the partners have least responsibilities on one another, and come close to each other just for the satisfaction of their carnal desires and nothing more. However, marriage not only offers complete sexual gratification to the couple, but also develops the feelings of love, care and sympathies for the future days to come. In marriage, the couples are bound to remain faithful to one another, and do not get into any immoral and sinful acts, which have been being considered as sins and crimes in the eyes of religious beliefs and social norms respectively. On the contrary, cohabitation does not implement any kind of restrictions upon the partners, and they are free to enter into sexual adventure of any kind, without being liable to their partners. Though some of the supporters of cohabitation seek loyalty of the partners to each other on ethical grounds, but since they have already crushed the moral and ethical values under the chariot wheels of lustful desires, they maintain least care in respect of getting responsible to their partners for any of the sexual conduct they feel attractive and alluring for them. In cohabitation, the partners are able to share time and money by living under one roof, though they are not under any obligation to take care of each other at the hour of need. On the other hand, marriage gives birth to the strong relationship of husband and wife, who aim to share every moment of joy and sorrow, ad pains and pleasures by walking hand in hand on the road of life. Somehow, lack of fulfillment of promises and their inability to take the responsibilities of their share may lead them to divorce, and breaking of home subsequently. Nevertheless, since the cohabitation partners have not entered into any long term relationship, they do not have any fear of the breaking of their contract altogether. Married couples reproduce the young ones, and spend on them for their bright future; on the contrary, cohabitation partners seldom reproduce, and do not take responsibility of children. Hence, cohabitation appears to be weaker bound than marriage, as high rate of divorce could not destroy this conventional institution, which is unanimously regarded to be the most basic, holiest and strongest social institution in the form of family and blood relations. Why do women choose to be child- free? Children are the most beautiful flowers of Nature, which fill homes with wonderful fragrance by their innocent talks, artless acts and captivating smiles. Consequently, they bring giggling on the faces of tired and exhausted parents with the help of simple acts and carefree disposition. It is therefore everyone desires to become parent one day in life. Somehow, the contemporary era witnesses a considerable fall in respect of the desire to reproduce and nurture the children. At first, it was the case with male stratum, though the same has shifted to females too gradually. Sociologists and anthropologists declare high separation and divorce rates as the most significant reason behind the women’s denial to reproduce. Since single parenthood has got popularity in the wake of high divorce rate, it has become very difficult for the single mother to provide financial assistance, social protection and high confidence level to the young ones. Lack of proper food and educational facilities turn the young ones to be criminals, deviants and ineffective citizens in grown years. In addition, since children are the responsibility of both the spouses, and desertion of husbands after childbirth leaves the wives at a sorry state of affairs, nurturing and socialization of children becomes very challenging for mothers. Moreover, a large majority of women have started working as professionals in various fields, which turns the female stratum unable to pay due heed to domestic affairs particularly towards children. If they abandon their professional obligations, the probabilities of their growth in respective field will eclipse to a great extent. On the other hand, paying more time to office may ruin the life of their children. Furthermore, children tend to become impartial and negligent towards their elderly parents; consequently, the elderly parents have to spend last years of their life in misery and isolation, mostly in old homes at the discretion of others. Since the children would not be supportive for them in future, spending time and money on them would certainly be a futile activity. It is therefore the women have started leading a child-free life in modern age. How could couples experience less stress in the first year of child rearing? Children are regarded to be one of the greatest joys life offers not only to humans, but also to birds, beasts, animal and reptiles at large. Consequently, all creatures shower pure feelings of love and affection on their young ones, and appear to be ready to sacrifice every comfort for the welfare, benefit and happiness of their children. The researches declare nurturing and brought up of children as the most enjoyable activity one experiences in life, which has no comparison with any other activity altogether. It is therefore people get married and reproduce in order to enjoy with true happiness of life on the one hand, and live in the world even after their death in the person of their second and third generations. However, child rearing serves as a highly challenging responsibility, which equally invites their anger and frustration along with bringing happiness and contentment to the parents. It is particularly the case during the very first year of the birth of a child, which requires attention and care from the parents on the one hand, and increases their expenditures and financial liabilities on the other. Somehow, instead of getting worried for the new responsibilities, the couple should happily accept and welcome the new arrival with open arms, and should divide their tasks and responsibilities towards the young one. Secondly, the parents should acknowledge their new tasks toward the new born, and should be ready to perform the same without frowns on the face altogether. Moreover, the would-be parents should make child-care and nourishment plan before the arrival of the child, so that the couple could avoid any fuss in future. In addition, they should look into their finances, and should put more financial liability to the spouse whose earning level is higher than the other. On the other hand, the second partner should devote more time and hours to the child in order to keep balance between the investment of money and time. It will certainly protect them from stress and nervousness, and will make the environment more pleasant. The co-operation between the couples and their care for the child will not only be beneficial for the infant, but also division of labor is bound to shower happiness upon the couple by increasing magnitude of love and affection between the couple. Factors increasing/decreasing the level of father-involvement/participation in childcare Father serves as the second greatest relation of individuals which is surpassed by mother only. It is father that gives the children name and introduction in society, and is responsible for the safety and protection of children from any external threat and danger. Father is aptly regarded as the sheltering tree under thick shadow of which the children feel them completely secure and stable, where no one can harm them in his presence. There was a time when the role of father used to be inevitable in respect of child rearing, though it has also experienced an imperative blow after the decline in family bonds and marriage institution. Consequently, modern societies witness fast decrease in father’s involvement in childcare. One of the most astounding factors decreasing father’s participation in affairs related to care and nourishment of children includes significant alterations in the roles both the spouses used to play at domestic level, where fathers used to be responsible for the fulfillment of all financial needs and requirements of their children, while mothers used to cook, bake, wash and nurture them at home. Now, a considerable proportion of women are working against different positions, which has brought changes in domestic life. Additionally, high rate of unemployment, inter-racial marriages, inclusion of cohabitation, and permission of homosexual relationships and gay marriages have destroyed the age-old mannerism of conventional societies. The individuals now confine marriage or cohabitation to the fulfillment of sexual gratification only, and look for escaping all responsibilities these relationships eventually produce. Another major factor behind decline in father’s involvement includes the alterations in the nature of work. The people have to travel wide in order to enter into business ventures and for job search as well, both of the situations are responsible for keeping the fathers far away from domestic affairs. Similarly, increase in work hours, and lust for earning more and more money has also decreased father’s role in domestic life, and children have started accepting how to live without fathers. Moreover, illegitimate births, other than the wed-lock, also make fathers unconcerned and apathetic towards children. Role overload and strife of job-oriented married women to reduce role conflict It has aptly been stated that the job-oriented married women have to make hard struggle in order to maintain balance between work and home. Consequently, they adopt various positions and professions as their career in order to survive under the most uncertain and challenging circumstances. Somehow, since the demands of every occupation vary from society to society as well as from other occupations and careers, the working women have to work very hard in respect of making sure headway in the way to professional career growth on the one hand, and protect domestic life from disturbance and ruination on the other. It is particularly the case with the married women, who particularly have to accomplish their personal and domestic tasks after spending many hours of a day at work. A balanced life is more important for perhaps women than for men, due to the very reality that men pay least heed to their domestic responsibilities. Lack of balanced life gives a go to quarrels and disturbances in family life, and the happy couples turn as the vanquished players at the stage of domestic life leading towards sorry state of separation and divorce consequently. Women should make comprehensive plan and schedule regarding their professional obligations, so that they could be in a position to avoid any unpleasant state of affairs at domestic level. In addition, they should also take their health conditions into consideration, so that they could guard themselves from becoming prey to illness and health deterioration subsequently. If women pay less heed to home, there is an inevitable threat of breaking of the same, which will result into adding to their financial worries, because without the attention and financial aid from their husbands, the child rearing may become near to impossible for them. They must discuss their domestic obligations to the bosses, and should share their professional responsibilities to their spouses, so that both the boss and husband can take their miserable condition into consideration, and can offer them some relief from the professional and domestic obligations respectively. Reference Popenoe, David. Can the Nuclear Family be revived? Society 36: 1999. In Sanchez, Laura A. Social and Demographic Factors Associated with Couples’ Choice between Covenant and Standard Marriage in Louisiana Retrieved from (Visited on November 1, 2012) Read More