In recent years, the family structure and the role of its members are gradually changing. What kinds of change have occurred? Do you think these changes are positive and negative?

Over the past decades, the family structure has undergone significant changes. In the past, we often saw many generations of relatives living under the same roof.

This

is no longer the case. People nowadays tend to live

further

apart in what is referred to as a ‘nuclear family’, one consisting of only a set of parents and children. Apart from the structural change, it is

also

noticeable than most women today have a job and

thus

a greater say in family matters. Their traditional roles used to be staying at home and taking care of children.

Although

this

remains true to some extent, women nowadays

also

share the financial burden with their husbands, because the rising cost of raising a family often necessitates two, not one, incomes. In my opinion, the changes taking place are mostly beneficial.

First

, the nuclear lifestyle reduces the burden placed on a young couple, who would

otherwise

have to take care of both sets of parents and their own children. The downside of

this

is perhaps

lack

Suggestion

lacking

of attention and care for older relatives.

However

, there now exists a trend towards putting elderly members

into

Suggestion

in

a retirement home, which is better equipped for the needs of these senior citizens.

Second

, as women are freed from the daily grind at home and start taking charge of their own lives, gender equality will be promoted and

thus

issues like domestic violence are less likely to happen. Modern females are less prone to suffer in silence, as they know where to turn to when they need to resolve a conflict or make their voices heard.