parents, children, and relatives: the family as a unit embracing parents and children together with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and sometimes more distant relatives •the joint family system has been in existence since ancient times. The father is considered as the head of the family. His wife, sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren together constitutes a joint family. The head of the family feels proud of the great number of members. Research has shown that there are several advantages to living in joint. joint family system can become a training ground for the future generation to learn and develop attributes and skills of living in harmony with fellow citizens in a society •it is an ideal support system financially and emotionally for the aging parents, young kids who learn to share and get love and attention from grand-parents, parents and uncles and aunts and for working mothers without the worries of day-care. •We get to know more about life by the experience we come across living in the joint families.
A child will grow in a well disciplined manner under the able guidance of the grandfather, grandmother and other elders as they have more experience of various aspects of life. •In joint families all the family members sit together and discuss their own promblems with the family members. Suppose if one member of the family is ill then there are a lot of people to take care of the ill person. •People growing in joint family tend to be more sensitive. Children would not feel neglected as there would be someone or the other to take care of the them in a joint family. The joint family is ideal for the woman who wants to work as well as have a family. Working women have someone to leave their children with when they are away at work, rather than leaving their children with servants. They can be assured that their children are being looked after by people who care for them almost as much as they do themselves. Against: •being physically far removed from the family members and as a result you get disconnected from their hearts and minds, •stresses in bringing up our children only relying on child care centers.
In Pakistani cities and towns, it can be even more difficult where there are not enough facilities available for care of children. •missing out on celebrations and festivities that bind us to our culture and gives us a sense of being at home. This is more relevant to those living out of the country. •having difficulty in passing on the cultural values to our children. Cultural values are learnt and taught by seeing them in action. • Some people have difficulty dealing with other people and such people will face problems wherever they go.
For a joint family system to work, the members will have to learn to adjust, to overcome their petty jealousies, to develop mutual respect between the generations, and to learn to give each other space. Nowadays, generation gap is causing a division between the once considered robust system of a joint family. the new generation of youngsters feel that a joint family is uneducative and noisy for their children. They feel that staying away from their parents is the right choice as they have conquered their goals and do no the support of anyone.
This is utterly disgusting and a shame as our parents were the only ones who taught us, gave us food, shelter, clothes and comfort and in return, this is what they are getting. This is an embarrassing situation for today’s generation. Moreover, a joint family promotes learning, experience, sense of understanding and trust and faith among all family members. We surely do need to have an awareness program on the benefits of a joint family. The reason for the rise of nuclear families is mainly the want of money, and freedom.
Against joint family points: (fundi has prepared these) *prepare some counterarguments for these points if you can) 01 No privacy 02 You have no opinion 03 Food habit not as per choice 04 Social gathering is recomended although you do not like 05 Going out for outing or holidays takes a long time or its usually together 06 Meeting friends is restricted. 07 All friends are not welcome in family 08 Your own relatives may not be welcomed 10 Person who earns more has to take care other who earn less 11 House wife may not act as per their capacity
