Role of Family and Parents - Traditional vs Modern

Role of Family / Parents

1. Role of Family – Traditional vs Modern (bonding of family members)
1.1 Family Size and Structures – Household Size
Household size in Singapore showed a declining trend, decreasing from an average of 5 persons in 1980 to 4 persons in 2000. Larger households that have 6 or more members are also undergoing a transformation into becoming smaller families that consisted 1-3 members.

Year

No. of person(s) in household

1980

5

2000

4


Statistics of Household Size from 1990 to 2000

Members in households

1990

2000

Status

6 members (extended)

21%

12%

Decreased by 9%

2-3 members (nuclear)

29%

36%

Increased by 7%

1 member (nuclear)

5%

8%

Increased by 3%

(Percentage as to all of Singapore’s households )

1.2 Family Size and Structures – Household Structure
In 2000, one-family nuclear households remained as the dominant household structure. Moreover, the traditional family structure that consisted of 2 or more families with three or more generations have also gradually decreased.

Type of households

1980

2000

Multi-family Households (extended)

11%

6%

(Percentage as to all of Singapore’s households)

Type of households

2000

1 family Households (nuclear)

82%

(Percentage as to all of Singapore’s households)


- The above statistics proved that modern thought of living only with spouses have gradually eroded away the traditional thought of living with many generations (eg: grandparents, parents, brother-in-laws etc.)
- Thus, it is proved that the role of family which was to bond many families from different generations together had eroded throughout the years and that the role is diminishing among Singapore’s families.

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