4 ms·

So as a sociological phenomenon, our relative aloneness is interesting, but I've been hearing about it for decades, not in a way that just applies to mothers. T

So as a sociological phenomenon, our relative aloneness is interesting, but I've been hearing about it for decades, not in a way that just applies to mothers. The whole "we used to know our neighbors!!" cry seems a bit dated now. The interesting twist these days is social media. Even though you are being social using those apps, from what I've seen, it doesn't fill the gap. Nuclear families though? I'm not sure how they get the blame outside of the general trend.

WorldMaker 9y ago
I think the question is a correlation versus causation question that sociology seems to have a hard time answering so far. Our society's increasing relative aloneness (to past societies, especially) is definitely correlated to a sense of the strong nuclear family as the preferred household unit (over various sorts of multi-generational or clan/tribe household units). This article posits two causations, with ideas like the 50s suburban American dream (of advertisers) causing a stronger focus on nuclear family as household unit, and the stronger focus on nuclear family as household unit as a causation for increased relative aloneness. If those posits are correct, then yes a case can be made that you can directly blame the modern conception of strong nuclear family as household unit for the general trend of relative aloneness.
- JimboOmega 9y ago
  Advancing the suburban SFH as the American Dream was probably Not Great, because the suburbs in general are sort of a mess on a lot of levels. But I'd agree, it's not clear if that was a product of advancing the nuclear family, or if the nuclear family was a consequence of that. Either way, I feel like that version of the American dream has been something young people have moved sharply away from the last couple decades, no?

4 ms·

So as a sociological phenomenon, our relative aloneness is interesting, but I've been hearing about it for decades, not in a way that just applies to mothers. T

by JimboOmega 9y ago

WorldMaker 9y ago
I think the question is a correlation versus causation question that sociology seems to have a hard time answering so far. Our society's increasing relative aloneness (to past societies, especially) is definitely correlated to a sense of the strong nuclear family as the preferred household unit (over various sorts of multi-generational or clan/tribe household units). This article posits two causations, with ideas like the 50s suburban American dream (of advertisers) causing a stronger focus on nuclear family as household unit, and the stronger focus on nuclear family as household unit as a causation for increased relative aloneness. If those posits are correct, then yes a case can be made that you can directly blame the modern conception of strong nuclear family as household unit for the general trend of relative aloneness.
- JimboOmega 9y ago
  Advancing the suburban SFH as the American Dream was probably Not Great, because the suburbs in general are sort of a mess on a lot of levels. But I'd agree, it's not clear if that was a product of advancing the nuclear family, or if the nuclear family was a consequence of that. Either way, I feel like that version of the American dream has been something young people have moved sharply away from the last couple decades, no?