Writing Skills Question 1 (50%) In developed countries, there has been a trend t
ID: 3487993 • Letter: W
Question
Writing Skills Question 1 (50%)
In developed countries, there has been a trend towards smaller family sizes. Why does this happen? How does this affect society?
Write an essay of about 600-800 words.
• Use 6 paragraphs for your essay.
• Your essay should have a paragraph of introduction, two (2) paragraphs of reasons people are choosing to have smaller family sizes, two (2) paragraphs of the ways it affects the society and also a paragraph of conclusion.
• Give your essay an appropriate title. You do not have to attach an essay outline for this essay.
Explanation / Answer
Small family - Boon or Bane, an analysis
Introduction: Family is a primary social unit which consists of parents and dependent 1 or 2 children. Due to globalized economy and trades, some countries got increase in national income, purchasing power parity, and deemed as developed countries. We can observe family with regard to its members is getting smaller in developed countries. There are limited children in family. Family structure shifting from joint family with large number of siblings to small family limited to parents and their children.
Reasons: Let us examine why the families are getting smaller in these developed countries. The main reason for families getting smaller in size is family planning or usage birth control. Nowadays, both parents are usually employed in developed countries and they may not be able to take care of large number of kids, so they opt for birth control. As the parents are both working, they are interested in earning more to have quality lifestyle. If they earn more, they can purchase own house and can have higher-end furniture. Parents think nowadays that they can afford good education for their children and give good attention if they have small number of kids.
Another reason for having smaller families is getting married late and decide to have kids when they are middle-aged. In many developed countries, we may observe that people are getting married late as they want to settle with secure job, asset, and protected income before they get married. This late marriage may result in drop in birth rate of children. Also, if the individual came from the small sized family and loved it, the individual may choose again to have a small family rather than having large family. Example: If an individual had good experience being brought up in an environment with only one sibling and it was enjoyed by the individual, the individual may choose to have even smaller family by having only one child rather two kids.
Effects on society: The families getting smaller in size may boost the economy by reduction in poverty. There will be enough resources to all and less competition. Social unrest due to lack of opportunities and high competition may be avoided by reduction in population. Also, housing can be affordable as small space is sufficient for small size family. Illness of children due to malnutrition can be eradicated as there will be sufficient nutrition supply to ensure healthy growth. This healthy growth of children result in strong future citizens who contribute to society positively. The children will get good attention by their parents resulting in increased capabilities, this will affect the society in positive manner.
In some cases, we may observe there will be lack of support from siblings because being raised as single/only kid. This may cause lack of moral support from family members/parents as they are busy at their work. There may be feel of neglect to the kid and in long-term individual may develop delinquency. Lack of support from elders may result in personality disorders in growing kids and there may be negative effects to the society. Example: Development of antisocial behavior in an individual can harm other members of the society. Number of human capital required to advance the nation may decrease due to reduction in population affecting the growth of nation.
Conclusion: There are many reasons as why family getting smaller with regard to number of member and there are both positive and negative effects of it to the society. Small family by choice like birth control is willful action taken after strategic thinking for enhancement of quality of life and positive effects to the society. Small family due to other reasons like getting married late may cause some reduction in human resource required to ensure young and working generation affecting the demographic dividend of the country.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.