The Changing Patterns in Family System from Extended to Nuclear: In Context of Working Women in Pakistan

Abstract

Family plays an integral part in person’s life. Whether nuclear, extended or single parent system, the primary socialization and bonding have always been essential element in one’s life. The shift in the family system from extended to nuclear, is evident nowadays due to number of reasons. Moreover, working women face number of problems in handling both work as well as household. At times it becomes difficult to adjust or live in particular family system. The working women in many cases contribute a lot in looking and satisfying the needs of the family members. However, the gap between the working women and family could be filled by looking at the way both can cooperate with each other. The problems working women are facing in extended family system are different from what they encounter in nuclear or single parent family system. Hence the gap between the working women and the family could result in changing their preference of a certain family system over the other. The change in the family system is thus evident from extended to nuclear family system. The data collection techniques involved mixed method. Both closed ended questionnaires and open ended interviews were conducted for data collection. The results obtained from primary research showed that most of the women preferred nuclear family over extended family system. Therefore, changing the family system or the family, as an institution as was common before. Therefore, the conclusion showed that most of the working women are living in nuclear family system and want to live in nuclear family system. Very few belonged to extended family system or single parent family. The problems prevailing in accepting working women or working mothers a major reason for shift from extended to nuclear family system.