Family is regarded as one of the essential pillars of an individual life. And it is a fact that every individual has given knowledge about family since their childhood days. Family is an institution in which children are given knowledge about those ethics and norms which are essential to lead a life.
The head of the family holds complete charge over other members and tries to assess them in a better way. Family can be dissected into two categories: joint family and nuclear family.
Joint family can be explained as that type of family in which not only parents and their children exist but there is an amalgamation of parents, their children, spouses of the children and their offspring in one household.
On the other hand, if we talk about the nuclear family. It would be crystal clear by its name that the nuclear family will consist of a small number of individuals in one household. Mainly nuclear families composed of parents and their children.
First let’s put some light on the positive and negative aspects of the joint family system. Joint family can be calculated as a group of people and all these members are connected by one another through a great bond which makes them united and strengthened.
As I have earlier discussed above, a joint family consists of a number of people and all these members are linked to each other so they mostly prefer to depend on each other in the need of hour. And that thing is considered as a positive aspect of the joint family system.
If I quote a proverb here “United we stand, Divided we fall” then it would definitely be unjust if I don’t relate that line to the joint family system.
In joint family system culture, civilization, ethics, norms and values are circulated by one generation to another. This shows how in a joint family system members are united and how each of them is playing his/her vital role for the existence of society.
If I move forward then I will never miss the very basic perspective of the joint family system and that perspective is that in the joint family system a family is run by elders members of society And by youngster choices. They run a family with a better support system.
They firmly believe in a joint family system. As it is a natural phenomenon that every individual needs some break from the everyday activities to soothe his/her soul in the company of nature. He/She needs some time for leisure.
In a joint family system so that opportunity of leisure to every member for sometime. Joint family system is based on a social insurance policy. Each and every member of society gets their share from the property divided by the head of family.
If I talk about the drawbacks of the joint family system then in that present era we noticed in our everyday life how people are hankering after a few bits of red and green papers. And chasing after Mamoon made a man dumb and dull and that is the reason which is causing conflicts between the members of family and families are being shattering due to these minor conflict which arouse due to greed of money.
This may seem a positive aspect for youngsters including me. As our ancestors are the true believers of old customs and rituals they try to impose their own ideologies and thoughts in life of their new generation. They believe that new generation must follow those paths which they have followed to lead their lives here I if I quote Imam Ali R.A saying this will fully open my thoughts:
“Don’t force Your children to behave like You, for surely they have been created For a time which is different from Your Time”
So if we ponder over that saying of Hazrat Imam Ali we can conclude that islam has also given the freedom to led Your life according to your own desires. Islam prophibited all kind of suppression.
Everyone is free to lead his or her life in that way in which they are comfortable. New generation wants to escape from old customs and traditions and like to spend their lives according to their own ideologies and goals.
That’s why clashes between youngsters and ancestors are increasing very rapidly in 21 century. Now this is the age of science and media. Everyone is following those ethics which the media have set for them. But in the joint family system the new generation is suppressed in concealment of old traditions and customs.
If I turned my pen to elaborate the nuclear family system. Then first of all I would like to draw a line to distinguish nuclear families from joint families. Nuclear family is completely different from the joint family system.
In nuclear families only parents and their children lived under one household. Nuclear family system is becoming more popular and acceptable around the world. Not only in the west but now in Pakistan the nuclear family system is getting more acceptance as compared to the joint family system.
Nuclear family system is based on a democracy system. In that family system everyone is free to spend his/her life according to his/her choice. They are not bound nor answerable to anyone in the family member. They can roam at any time of their own choice. They have no worries about what other members of their family will think about them.
Nuclear family system based upon the parental love and siblings connection. The relationship in the nuclear family system is very straightforward. This relationship is based on respect, care and mutual understanding. In the nuclear family system youngsters prefer more freedom and less restrictions.
Let suppose if in nuclear family system both parents are jovial so whenever they leave for work children’s needs some activities of leisure and refreshments they need some outing. For that kind of activity less restrictions are essential and more freedom is necessary.
The very basic positive aspect of the nuclear family system is that in the nuclear family system chances of quarrels are very less. Like in the joint family system everyone wants to run a family according to his/ her own choices and that kind of actions give birth to clashes between family members.
While in the nuclear family, that scenario is different from the joint family system. A very few quarrels take place between mother and father or maybe sometime between child and parents on some mini issues.
By comparing both joint and nuclear family systems it is crystal clear that both have their own pros and cons. India is the only country which is famous for its cultural diversity therefore the joint family system is still prevalent in many parts of this country.
In Canada, the nuclear family system is prevalent. People tend to live their lives according to their own rules and ambitions. This cannot be denied that in the west, the extended family system is adopted by many families.
In Pakistan, mostly in rural areas, the joint family system is still in practice while with an increase of awareness everyone is trying to prefer the nuclear family system. Urbanization is regarded as the mother of the nuclear family system. With the increase of urbanization, the nuclear family system defeated the joint family system.
And the line of difference between the joint family system and nuclear family system shows that the nuclear family system sounds better than the joint family system. A small group of people is better than a large one having clashes between them.
Nuclear family system provides a less stressed environment. As every individual needs peace and calm environment after returning from work at home nuclear family can provide better peaceful environment as they quoted:
“Small family, happy family”
It’s a complete choice to choose either a joint family system or nuclear family system to live your life according to your own desires and rules. So which one would you prefer?