Disadvantages of A Nuclear Family: IELTS Sample Essays

Argumentative essays for IELTS form the major writing tasks. An essay that defines the disadvantages of a nuclear family must also have generalized advantages and the writer's opinion at the end of the argument. This would display the knowledge and awareness the student writing the IELTS have. All the three aspects, when covered, IELTS bands 8 and 9 will be your result!

Disadvantages of Nuclear Family: IELTS Essay Sample 1

Although the 21st century has redefined many terms- marriages, art, culture, etc., the one universally intact term is “Family”. Family is a pedestal on which society rests. With time, many factors have emerged, directly impacting the priorities and whittling our choices of living in a nuclear or joint family.

Studies have shown that this liberation has led the majority to aim for a nuclear family (comprising a husband, spouse, and unmarried children) rather than a joint family. Underlying benefits have induced this preference:

• Privacy is the prime factor in opting for nuclear families as the cultural advent has made it the need of an hour for many.
• Inspires the ladies of the house to take charge of all the necessities, helping them boost their self-esteem.
• Encourage financial stability and an environment of healthy discussion among members.

The rising graph of nuclear families depicts the ignorance towards the disadvantages of a nuclear family, the significance of which needs to be cast in the light of:

• Burden of finances and the pressure of work-life balance, especially with infants, have to be borne solely on their own. 
• Gathering around a bunch of people boosts confidence and the ability to interact with individuals of all ages. This factor is amiss in nuclear families, especially when both parents are working. This accentuates boredom and induces low self-confidence.
• More members are equivalent to more support against any contingency, but nuclear families lack members.
• Induction of insecurity in the old members of the family.

The gist is that nuclear families can be better, considering some aspects of life, but paradoxically, every choice has disadvantages too, that need to be equally pondered upon.

Word count: 275

Tentative band score: 6

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Disadvantages of Nuclear Family: Essay Sample 2

Most Indian families have historically been patriarchal. In such a setup, the eldest male member leads the family, is the decision-maker and the bread earner, while the woman administers household chores. As the concept of patriarchy deprived women of freedom of speech, and decision, she was considered the weaker sex. Gradually, India began to see a depletion in the number of joint families. In 2017, rural India too joined the nuclear family bandwagon. 

However, with the onset of nuclear families came its pitfalls. When living with others, the expenses were shared, and there was warmth in relationships. In the nuclear set up, the onus fell alone on the set of adults, keeping them under stress all the time. Thus, a nuclear setup is a stumbling block when the earning member is ailing or loses the means to earn. And if both the parents work, there is no one to take care of the children in their absence. The frustration of being alone at home makes children insecure and defiant.   

Apart from this, the jealousy factor of how other members of the clan are progressing is one of the disadvantages of a nuclear family. Relationships, in that case, become emotionless, doubling the materialistic attitude of the people. In fact, this has been pivotal in damaging the family's peace. 

Nevertheless, this enabled more consumerism and up-scaled the country's economy. Where earlier one refrigerator was enough for a family of 10, now, each family buys its own electronics, boosting the economy. Moreover, the nuclear family instills more responsibility among the children as they are independent and empowered to care for themselves. 

I believe the disadvantages of the nuclear family overpowers its advantages, although it is the preferred way of living for most couples. 

Word count: 289

Tentative band score: 5