death of the nuclear family
Farewell — And Good Riddance — To The 'Typical American Family'
The short, troubled reign of the nuclear family has come to an end. But we can replace it with something even better.
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The Lede
For most of the 20th century, the word "family" in America evoked a predictable picture of cookie-cutter cleanliness: the happily married husband and wife, their 2.5 kids, and one improbably well-behaved golden retriever, all under the same roof. But the nuclear family has steadily eroded over the last 50 years.
Key Details
- Although it may be premature to declare the nuclear family over, the model is beginning to look more like a fringe lifestyle choice than the bedrock of American society.
- As dating culture became more entrenched in the economy during the 20th century, the nuclear family became a microcosm of capitalist self-sufficiency and the consumerism that came with it.
- As more people have formed families that diverged from the nuclear-family norm, the weaknesses of the structure have become glaring.