You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1:
Gone are the days when families used to stay close. Four main causes have primarily contributed to the phenomenon of family detachment. I, however, personally believe that a few factors still can strengthen family ties.
Estrangement depends on several factors, like different expectations, mismatch in values, emotional abuse and urban lifestyle. Financial factors coupled with other factors, for example, education, also fuel it up. In simple words, highly educated family members with financial independence are not dependent on each other, thereby they are likely to live separately. Research has shown that highly educated adults are associated with higher rates of family breakdown.
Besides, a mismatch in values is another prominent reason. If a father has a deeply entrenched belief in male superiority and the daughter violates that, the father views it as offensive. And, how one can forget about extramarital affairs as many women in the USA, for instance, often mention it as the reason for their estrangement from their husbands. Finally, with the emergence of urban lifestyles, people no longer have joint families. This has made their bond with close family members like grandparents, uncles and aunts very distant.
However, some factors can foster closeness – priority, expert opinion, regular interactions and forgiveness, for instance. The first factor that can promote closeness is giving children priority. That is to say that parents ought to spend sufficient time with their children. When children see their parents sacrificing for them, they will possibly never leave their parents in old homes. The next factor that can ameliorate relationships is expert opinion. People should seek help from psychologists who can advise them on how to avoid pitfalls in a relationship. Finally, regular interaction and forgiveness can flourish closeness to a great extent.
To conclude, a family’s chance to drift apart is high in modern days. Several factors such as independence, mismatch in values, and extramarital affairs, need to be considered when the family gets broken. However, priority, expert opinion and forgiveness are the key to reconciliation.
Model Answer 2:
The family was the kernel of people’s lives and a strong family bond was a common phenomenon in the past. But sadly, we have shifted to a more self-centred urban lifestyle where we are busy outside. We think little about our kinship and interact less with our relatives which has unfixed our bonds to a great extent. A few useful measures can, however, still improve it.
To begin with, a growing percentage of the population now lives in cities and many of them work hard to make ends meet. Others are busy making their fortune. Both of these groups have become selfish enough to sail away from their family and live on their own. They have little time to think about their family members either because they can’t or they won’t! For instance, the number of joint families in suburban and rural areas was quite high but with a city-centric lifestyle, we do not take our grandparents, uncles or aunts to live with us, and even leave our parents after we get a job and thus the nuclear family has become the norm in the modern era. Devastatingly enough, people do not have time for their own children and when those children grow up, they feel little connection to their families. This is an atrocious circle that floats us away from our family relationship.
Perhaps the best way to strengthen our family bonds is to get back to a traditional lifestyle away from cities. But since it is not practically possible, we should still prioritise our family over everything else. We can interact more often with our close relatives, spend quality time with our family members, sacrifice our luxury for them, be loyal to them and teach them how to value the importance of family. Perhaps then we would have a much stronger family connection. Research indicates that the divorce rate is high in cities among busy executives who prioritise their careers over their families. We still have time to build a career for the family, not the other way around.
In conclusion, a family is perhaps the single most important thing in this world and we should take every possible initiative to keep it intact and strong before it is too late for us.
Model Answer 3:
In recent times, there has been a transformation in the way families used to be formed in the past, and families, the most fundamental constituency in society, are no longer as closely bonded as they used to be in our ancestor’s time. This essay will discuss the reasons for this change and suggest ways in which families can be brought closer together.
One of the primary reasons for the breakdown in family relationships is the advent of modern technology. With smartphones, social media platforms, and video games, individuals spend more time in isolation with their gadgets than in the company of their family members. In addition, long working hours, commuting times, and social commitments take up much of the time that would have been spent interacting with family members.
Another reason for the lack of closeness in families is the fact that people today are more career-driven and independent. With more job opportunities and better educational prospects, people are no longer tied to their hometowns and often relocate to different cities or countries, leading to a lack of proximity and interaction with extended family members.
To bring families closer together, a conscious effort needs to be made by all members. This can be achieved through regular communication, setting aside time for family activities, and celebrating family traditions and occasions. For instance, a family can plan a regular game or movie night, take annual vacations together, or gather to celebrate birthdays and festivals.
In conclusion, the breakdown of family relationships is a multifaceted issue that has emerged due to the advent of modern technology and changing social dynamics. However, by making a conscious effort to spend quality time together, participate in joint activities, and cherish family traditions, families can be brought closer together.
This post was last modified on 23rd March 2023 10:08 pm