Opinions vary regarding whether the extended family is less important now than it was in the past. I agree with the statement for the following two reasons. For one thing, today’s people have little contact with their extended family because they are bound and driven by hectic schedules. Moreover, the extended family has been replaced by other people, such as friends and neighbors.
First of all, people are too busy to interact with their extended family. In these days, many people face fierce competition, and thus have to spend the most of their time at school and work. The problem with this is that the people’s hectic schedules make them to be unable to meet their extended family. So, the extended family has become less important than it was in the past. According to a study conducted by Korean National Research Center, 71 percent of surveyed people answered that they have had less contact with their extended family than during their early years. Based on the study, they cannot spare time to interact with their extended family because they are overwhelmed with heavy workload. In this sense, I think that extended family are no longer regarding highly rather than in the past.
In addition, people who live near us such as friends and neighbors have taken over the role of the extended family in modern society. In the past, the extended family would tend to live close by, which allows them to interact frequently. However, nowadays, the extended families live in different areas of the country. Thus, today’s people put much weigh on their friends and neighbors rather than their extended family. Take my case as an example. I once had difficulty in deciding my career. At that time, I asked for help to my friend since I could have easier access than my extended family. Additionally, my uncle seemed to have no idea of what I was concerned. Eventually, I decided to follow my friend’s advice, which let me make right decision for my career path. As my experience illustrates, it is hard for today’s people to be regarded highly their extended family.
In conclusion, I claim that extended family cannot play a significant role because many people have little contact with them by their heavy workload, and many people have maintained closer relationship with their friends and neighbors than their extended family. |