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What is a nuclear family, anyway?

Aunt Spiker

Aunt Spiker

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I've always thought the nuclear family is one with both parents (mother and father) and their children.

This is not so, apparently - much to my surprise - the nuclear family is actually defined as "one or two parents and their children."

At least this is so according to Macionis - author of "Social Problems" - a textbook that goes along with "Social Problems" as a college level course.
 
It is two parents and their shared biological kids, defining it as "one or two parents and their children" is PC bull****.

(on the topic of being PC, it took all my self control not to post a picture of a Japanese family.)
 
Bruce said:
It is two parents and their shared biological kids, defining it as "one or two parents and their children" is PC bull****.

(on the topic of being PC, it took all my self control not to post a picture of a Japanese family.)
Click to expand...

So - if my husband died we wouldn't be a nuclear family, anymore?

I think the only problem with the definition is that it takes the jam out of the anti-gay marraige donut.
 
I just did a google search on the term, and on every link I see on the first page, I see the traditional definition. I think what's-his-face is redefining the term for whatever reason.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
So - if my husband died we wouldn't be a nuclear family, anymore?

I think the only problem with the definition is that it takes the jam out of the anti-gay marraige donut.
Click to expand...

yes, you would be a nuclear family. good lord.
 
My understanding of the nuclear family is not so much based on people rigidly filling slots, but that the various members of the family fill certain social roles to the best of their ability. If someone died, I would probably consider it to be a nuclear family because its a very situation then the guy (or gal) going off and finding another mate. Largely this has to do with certain moral standards I seek to uphold and think other people should also have.

However, this does not mean that other family structures are bad. In the case of an abusive husband, a single parent home is preferable, as is a situation where an uncle or grandparents live in the house for necessary support (whether giving or receiving), even though the structure is then different.
 
megaprogman said:
My understanding of the nuclear family is not so much based on people rigidly filling slots, but that the various members of the family fill certain social roles to the best of their ability. If someone died, I would probably consider it to be a nuclear family because its a very situation then the guy (or gal) going off and finding another mate. Largely this has to do with certain moral standards I seek to uphold and think other people should also have.

However, this does not mean that other family structures are bad. In the case of an abusive husband, a single parent home is preferable, as is a situation where an uncle or grandparents live in the house for necessary support (whether giving or receiving), even though the structure is then different.
Click to expand...

Your post brings to mind some statistics about deaths from child abuse - in the states with the highest mortality rates due to abuse it's the biological mother who is more likely to be the perpetrator - not the biological father or the step parent(s).

Just adds and interesting layer to "who is better to be a parent?"
 
Aunt Spiker said:
Your post brings to mind some statistics about deaths from child abuse - in the states with the highest mortality rates due to abuse it's the biological mother who is more likely to be the perpetrator - not the biological father or the step parent(s).

Just adds and interesting layer to "who is better to be a parent?"
Click to expand...

Fair enough, due to reputation I automatically inserted male in there. Thanks for the reality check.
 
Are these the kind of folks that label themselves as "units":confused: I have always thought that strange. You are a human and play a major role in a family. You are not some strange "unit" as if you came from Mars for **** sake:roll:
 
I was not sure where to put this ... it is an old clip from 2007 yet was just sent to me by a friend to explain the culture of his country. It is kind of a cool perspective for women.

 
23810-cmp-51fbf8636ac82d63c6aa30c0230340c342bbf07d93cdc04bba0ae5e8d8b53b56.jpg
 
Does a nuclear family have a nucleus? Protons, neutrons, and such?
 
You know what they say - -a family that glows together grows together.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
--This is not so, apparently - much to my surprise - the nuclear family is actually defined as "one or two parents and their children."

At least this is so according to Macionis - author of "Social Problems" - a textbook that goes along with "Social Problems" as a college level course.
Click to expand...

I think the definition was for the parents to be married. The notion of "nuclear family" really becomes noticeable from the 1940's onwards so how "traditional" a nuclear family is- is open to debate. In other countries you have extended families where the adults are genetically linked and share childcare and you can also find that some see co-habitation as an alternative to the nuclear family (simply because mother and father haven't married).

I live with my partner and my 2 children from my first marriage - and my child with my partner, we are not a nuclear family or even a partial one simply because we have not married.
 
Aunt Spiker said:
I've always thought the nuclear family is one with both parents (mother and father) and their children.

This is not so, apparently - much to my surprise - the nuclear family is actually defined as "one or two parents and their children."

At least this is so according to Macionis - author of "Social Problems" - a textbook that goes along with "Social Problems" as a college level course.
Click to expand...

I'd go with his definition.''And it's pronoubced "nucular."
 
is it too soon for a radioactivity joke?
 
Mickey Shane said:
Does a nuclear family have a nucleus? Protons, neutrons, and such?
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that's where the term comes from.

But I'm not sure who the nucleus would be.

The mom? That would be my guess.
 
A nuclear family is a family that takes lighter families and combines them into heavier families.
 
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