Letter: The nuclear family just cannot cope
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The nuclear family just cannot cope
Sir: It seems to me, a working wife and mother, that the modern nuclear family is inadequate as a framework for the raising of children ("The 11th commandment: thou shalt not pass the buck", 28 October).
It may have worked in the past for those of the prosperous middle classes where the father's income was sufficient to support a wife, children and servants. Nowadays a huge proportion of the employed have insufficient income to support their immediate family. This is why so many wives and mothers are having to work for money.
A single, traditional marriage of adults simply cannot provide sufficient resources for the proper raising of children as loved, respected and fully developed individuals. I think we must look for better ways of pooling our resources.
A group of about 12 adults would have enough energy and skill to raise shared children and care for and nurture each other. They could each play a role as appropriate, in earning outside income, producing food, keeping the abode clean and functioning, nursing, educating and entertaining. Each child would have a choice of adults in each situation without draining the emotional and energy resources of just one or two.
We must stop harking back to the outmoded, inadequate nuclear family.
HILARY CHIVALL
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments