A “nuclear
family” is defined as a family consisting of a husband, wife, and
children. Usually, the husband is the
primary income earner while the woman ussumes the role of care giver. She would be responsible for taking care of
the children and maintaining the house whether it be cleaning, cooking, or
organizing. This view of the family has
become the norm for the American society.
However, today, there are many different types of families. It is not the norm to have a “nuclear family”
in American society. To start, there are
many families that have dual working parents.
The financial burden has forced both parents to pursue a career that
will help support the family. In
addition, the recession has caused many parents to lose their jobs. As a result, husbands are getting more
involved in the day-to-day chores of the household. Although this is starting to replace the old
view of a family, the world is also facing changes with gay and lesbian
couples. It is common for a child to
have two dads or moms. Furthermore,
families are getting divorced and the former husbands and wives are making ends
meet while no longer living with one another.
Overall, it is difficult to say which family style the norm in today’s
society is.
In
the article “Dad-Mom Role Reversals” by Sara Eckel, she explains that
many fathers are having a difficult time coping with the change in roles. For a
father who was the primary wage earner to change his duties throughout the day
from work to household chores as a result of being laid off, he is going to
have some difficulties. I come from a
family where my father is the primary wage earner and works ten hour days. Therefore, he does not have as much time to
help with the household chores and family bearing responsibilities. My mother wanted to raise her children as we
were growing up so she had a part time job.
Although today she has a full working week because her children are
older now, she still completes the household chores. If somehow the roles were reversed, my dad
would face difficulties adjusting to his new role, similar to the fathers in the
article.
Source: http://www.workingmother.com/2010/2/home/dad-mom-role-reversals
In the past the nuclear family was considered the norm. Nowadays, it is more common to have the wife and husband both work, compared to the wife doing all the chores. My mom in the past was a stay at home wife, meaning our family was considered a nuclear family. As a result of the recession she decided to get a part time job. Now she works and my father works. They both are responsible for chores as well. In time the nuclear family will no longer be the norm
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