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Posted by Chester Morton / Saturday 2 February 2019 / No comments
The advantages and disadvantages of an extended family system
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF AN EXTENDED FAMILY
Definition
An extended family can be defined as that type of family in
which there are fathers, mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, brothers,
sisters, and cousins. In fact, in an extended family, one can find a number of
nuclear families. An extended family goes beyond just a father, mother, and
children. In some extreme cases, the number of members in an extended family
can run into hundreds and a small community could be made up of first, second
and many distant cousins.
ADVANTAGES OF EXTENDED FAMILY
Source of security for members
One of the advantages of an extended family system is the
kind of security it offers to the members of the family. The adage that there
is protection in numbers comes to play in a situation like this. In an extended
family, for example, members believe that they have people on whom they can
count on in times of trouble and even in good times. One of the occasions on
which numbers count is during funerals or weddings. On occasions like this, the
bereaved family or the couple has people to help in organizing the occasion to
ensure it succeeds.
It engenders unity in society
Another advantage of the extended family system is the way it
brings about unity in the entire community by virtue of unity in the family.
The blood relationship that exists among all the cousins, sisters, brothers,
mothers, fathers, etc., brings about peace and this peace leads to unity that
extends into the larger society.
Support from family members
It has also been observed that in times of financial or
emotional crisis, the members of the family are able to secure help from
wealthier and older family members. A boy qualifies for the university but the
biological father cannot pay the fees. An uncle could volunteer to sponsor the
education of that person. A sister is about to get married and all the brothers
and cousins come together to offer help both financially and in kind. A man
could die leaving the children with no inheritance or support. The uncles and
aunties could take over and raise the children on behalf of the deceased brother.
This cannot be found in a nuclear family system.
Socialization is accomplished by more people
An extended family, the children are brought up not only
by the biological parents but also by other older members of the family such as
aunties and uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers. One benefit of this way of
raising children is that the children are brought up to fit into the larger
community or society. The tendency toward waywardness is drastically reduced.
THE DISADVANTAGES OF AN EXTENDED FAMILY
Some family members become lazy
One of the disadvantages of the extended family system is
that some members tend to exhibit lazy attitudes towards life. Some members think
that since uncles and aunties are there to give support, they can sit down and
do no work. Some are eager to inherit their uncles and sometimes even wish them
dead before their time is due.
Struggle over who inherits what
Another disadvantage of an extended family system is that
quarrels result after the death of a member concerning who gets what part of
his or her estate. While a rich member is still alive, some family members begin
to target particular properties of theirs to get hold of when they eventually
die. This does not augur well for the unity of the family.
Interference in marriages and other relationships
Also, the extended family system is such that sometimes people
have to live together in family houses. Consequently, people have the
opportunity to pass comments on the good or bad behaviours of other members.
This may sometimes lead to quarrels. There is also open interference in the
marriages of couples living within the family compound. Some are openly
encouraged to get a divorce. This may affect negatively a marriage that could otherwise
have been successful.
There is too much burden on a few individuals
In an extended family system, there is always an unwritten code
that the well to do must take care of the less fortunate. It is almost a crime
for a rich member of the family to refuse to help another member of the family.
This puts a lot of financial pressure on the rich members of the family. It
sometimes even leads some family members to engage in corrupt practices in
order to be able to continue to support their own.
Misplaced leadership roles
Last but not least, in an extended family system, leadership
can sometimes be determined by how deep a person’s pocket is. Some members are
influenced by the largess they get from a rich member and therefore are wont to
accord that rich member more respect that the natural leaders of the family.
ALSO READ:
The major functions of a familyThe advantages and disadvantages of a nuclear family system
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