Individual Report: Family
Q: Are reconstructed families causing a negative effect on the family?
A reconstructed family is that type of family in which, due to the death of one partner or a separation,
one of the parents remarries to continue their generations.
Regardless of the public opinion that the divorce rates have increased it has been proven that the rates
have actually been declining in the US. Wyoming, being the state with highest rates of divorces at 3.8
divorces per 1,000 people in 2020 (US - divorce rate by state 2020 | Statsta, 2021) *1
A survey conducted in Pakistan says that 58% of the population thinks that the divorce rates have
increased in the country and every other person thinks that these divorces are caused by the in-laws of
the family. The COVID-19 pandemic is also being blamed as one of the reasons why there is a high
divorce rate (Survey says divorce rate hits all-time high in Pakistan - Daily Times, 2021). *2
In Karachi, according to the police reports, during only the first quarter of the 2020, there had been
3,800 divorce cases already filed (Survey says divorce rate hits all-time high in Pakistan - Daily Times, 2021). *3
I have picked this topic because I have grown very fond of it by seeing related stuff happen around me
and I wanted to see how other countries and religion deal with reconstructed families and how they
control or help them.
Dysfunctional kids are a consequence of reconstructed families and their cause is child abuse, mental
and physical. Dysfunctional means someone/something that cannot function properly or normally.
Dysfunction in kids means that they cannot socially interact well with people and cannot adjust to the
changing views of the world that easily.
It is said that 1 out of 25 kids in the US don’t live with even one of their parents and tend to live alone.
More than three-quarters of the kids nowadays are living in what we call a nontraditional family.
Alongside that 34% of the kids are living in a single-parent family (Gaille, 2017). *4
A worldwide organization called Nemours Kids Health is also giving away suggestions by which we could
help a dysfunctional kid come back on track. They say that we should make our kids follow the 1, 2, 3
steps which are: getting organized, staying focused and getting it done (Help Your Child Get Organized (for Parents) Nemours KidsHealth, 2022). *5
All of us can agree that child abuse is one of the reasons why dysfunctional kids exist. In Pakistan, the
Child’s Right Association reported six child abuse cases on a daily basis from January through June in
2020 (World Report 2021: Rights Trends in Pakistan, 2020) *6
Poverty can also be a reason behind child abuse and Pakistan is helping its people overcome poverty by
introducing various projects like the National Social Protection-for-Results project which was established
in 2017 by the government and was aimed to strengthen the social safety net systems for people living
in poverty (ozturk, 2019). *7
Almost 34% of Pakistan’s population suffers from a mental disorders but the society is very
inconsiderate about them and tells their kids to stay away from such people in case they might hurt
them. This only increases the mental stress on the mentally ill causing them to turn into dysfunctional
people who are not able to function properly in the society and are targeted by many (Damani, 2018). *8
The most important cause on a global level is the increasing divorce rates all around the world. The
increasing divorce rates promote child abuse and domestic violence which in turn show the results of
dysfunctional kids. These kids would then grow up to not trust anyone around them and get into further
bullying and loneliness (creager, 2018) *9
Another cause of dysfunctional kids on a national level may have to do with the different cultures and
traditions. In Pakistan, there live many cultures and traditions. But as a nation we have the mentality
that a kid should be very confident and talkative, and when the kid doesn’t talk or socialize they think
that the kids doesn’t like them instead of trying to give the kid some time to adjust.
Courses of actions that can be taken to reduce the increasing rates of dysfunctional kids, personally, is
by adopting many different ways, for example you can try giving your child more attention and try not to
extend fights and keep them short and healthy (Schulman, n.d.). *10. Another way to help this issue get
resolved by creating enough awareness about the issue that the government is forced to take action
upon it and raise your voice for your problems yourselves so that they may get fixed.
Domestic violence is the type of violence that is carried out within a home whether it is on the child or
the partner. This may have long-lasting effects on both the victim and the child of that house.
Reconstructed families are a reason why domestic violence exists. In reconstructed families this type of
violence is usually carried out by the step-parent of the family, whether male or female.
UN Women says, that there has been estimate of almost 736 million women who are subjected to
domestic violence. Almost 30% of these are 15 years old and above (Facts and figures: Ending violence against women,
2022). *11
It is also said that 13 women are killed every day by a husband or intimate partner. In 2017, he estimate
of 87,000 women were killed intentionally and about 50,000 of them killed by a husband or intimate
partner. Domestic violence rates are skyrocketing in the underdeveloped areas with less educational
chances (Facts and figures: Ending violence against women, 2022). *12
In Pakistan, according to the studies of the Bureau of Statistics, most of the women in one province
think that it should be acceptable for a husband to hit his wife under certain circumstances. This type of
mindset does nothing more than to encourage the husband to do whatever he wants to whether it is
right or wrong (khan, 2021). *13
The National Commission about the Status of Women Bill 2012 and the National Policy for Development
and Empowerment of Women (NPDEW) 2002, along with the Punjab Protection of Women against
Violence Act (PPWVA) 2016 are amongst some of the measures taken to safeguard women from
domestic violence in the past decade (khan, 2021). *14
Religiously, domestic violence is not promoted at all and is very frowned upon in every religion but
according to the mindset of the illiterate people of Pakistan, which are quite a lot, it is said that a
women should bear the pain that is given by her husband so that she may not get divorced as a divorce
in counted as a very bad thing in their view.
The causes of domestic violence are the introduction of a new partner in the family. Globally, domestic
violence exists a lot and is needed to be fixed but one of the main reasons for its existence is
reconstructed families, and with the rising numbers of divorce and remarriage rates there will soon be a
rise in domestic violence. In turn, it will completely damage the society of one’s country and will make it
impossible for them to live there.
Domestic violence also exists because of the increasing use of alcohol and drugs which force opeople to
become addicts and so lose their temper and some even tend to be violent which in turn results in
domestic violence (Causes Of Domestic Violence, 2022). *15
We should specialize our family courts and make sure they handle these issues with great delicacy.
Another thing we can do for the victims of domestic violence is to provide emotional and economical
support for them so they can think and ponder about what next they have to do in a comfortable
environment (smith, 2021). *16
Overall, my sources are very reliable and can it can be taken in account the hard work I put into
researching and finding these sources. Most of the sources I have used are reliable in various ways
because there is updated news mostly taken from one to two years ago. The sites I have used for my
sources are very well known and can be rechecked any time through the contact and mails provided.
The websites used usually gave the name of the author and how to contact them personally. Taking in
account all f these factors most of my sources are very reliable and can be trusted o some extents.
Another thing in my sources is that some of them are half cited and don’t contain as much as
information needed. Some of the sources used give only dates or the authors name and leave out the
contact and address making it a bit difficult to contact but with enough research we could be able to
reach and contact the writers or publishers of that article. Though with no contact given my sources
were strong enough to answer any question and leave no more questions in the mind of the reader.
Fortunately, all the sources that were used in my re poet were quiet reliable in different factors such as
time, contact, reliability, and whether the site was known or not. The sources used were very helpful to
answer any questions and heped me further make better my research on the topic.
My personal opinion about reconstructed families was that the partner should be given a chance to re
marry and to relive their life like they once did, but now after having researched on it, I feel like
reconstructed families come with a lot of risks, for the person themselves and the upcoming generations.
With domestic violence and dysfunctional kids, I feel like reconstructed families should be arranged
under strict measures and after looking into the to-become step-parent’s family thoroughly before
remarrying so we could avoid the rise of the issues that come alongside reconstructed families..
In the end I would like to agree that reconstructed families have impacts on the society and after
planning out and doing my research I have proven that reconstructed families come with many negative
effects not only on the family members but also the society in which they live.
Bibliography:
Statista. 2021. US - divorce rate by state 2020 | Statista. [online] Available at: <https://www.statista.com/statistics/621703/divorce-rate-in-the-united-states-bystate/> [Accessed 18 February 2022] *1
Daily Times. 2021. Survey says divorce rate hits all-time high in Pakistan - Daily Times. [online] Available at: <https://dailytimes.com.pk/849318/survey-saysdivorce-rate-hits-all-time-high-inpakistan/#:~:text=The%20divorce%20rate%20in%20Pakistan%20has%20reached%20an,responsible%20for%20most%20of%20these%20cases%2C%20it%20ad
ded.> [Accessed 18 February 2022]. *2
Daily Times. 2021. Survey says divorce rate hits all-time high in Pakistan - Daily Times. [online] Available at: <https://dailytimes.com.pk/849318/survey-saysdivorce-rate-hits-all-time-high-inpakistan/#:~:text=The%20divorce%20rate%20in%20Pakistan%20has%20reached%20an,responsible%20for%20most%20of%20these%20cases%2C%20it%20ad
ded.> [Accessed 18 February 2022]. *3
Gaille, B., 2017. 23 Scarey Statistics on Dysfunctional Families. [online] BrandonGaille.com. Available at: <https://brandongaille.com/22-scarey-statistics-ondysfunctional-families/> [Accessed 18 February 2022]. *4
Kidshealth.org. 2022. Help Your Child Get Organized (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth. [online] Available at: <https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/childorganized.html> [Accessed 18 February 2022]. *5
Human Rights Watch. 2020. World Report 2021: Rights Trends in Pakistan. [online] Available at: <https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/countrychapters/pakistan> [Accessed 19 February 2022]. *6
ozturk, y., 2019. Children of Pakistan - Humanium. [online] Humanium. Available at: <https://www.humanium.org/en/pakistan/> [Accessed 18 February 2022]. *7
Damani, S., 2018. Mental Illness in Pakistan: A Subject of Stigma, Ridicule, and Cultural Insensitivity | JPMS Medical Blogs. [online] Blogs.jpmsonline.com.
Available at: <https://blogs.jpmsonline.com/2018/01/28/mental-illness-in-pakistan-a-subject-of-stigma-ridicule-and-cultural-insensitivity/> [Accessed 19 February
2022]. *8
creager, t., 2018. What Causes a Family to Be Dysfunctional? - Todd Creager. [online] Todd Creager. Available at: <https://toddcreager.com/what-causes-afamily-to-be-dysfunctional/> [Accessed 25 February 2022].
*9
Schulman, A., n.d. 6 Easy Ways to Deal With Dysfunctional Family Members. [online] Raise Your Vibration TODAY. Available at:
<https://raiseyourvibrationtoday.com/uncategorized/deal-with-dysfunctional-family-members/> [Accessed 25 February 2022]. * 10
figures#:~:text=Globally%2C%20an%20estimated%20736%20million%20women%E2%80%94almost%20one%20in,older%29.%20This%20figure%20does%20no
t%20include%20sexual%20harassment.> [Accessed 20 February 2022]. *11
UN Women. 2022. Facts and figures: Ending violence against women. [online] Available at: <https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-againstwomen/facts-andfigures#:~:text=Globally%2C%20an%20estimated%20736%20million%20women%E2%80%94almost%20one%20in,older%29.%20This%20figure%20does%20no
t%20include%20sexual%20harassment.> [Accessed 20 February 2022]. *12
khan, s., 2021. Domestic violence against Women in Pakistan. [online] Pakistan Today. Available at: <https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/03/10/domesticviolence-against-women-in-pakistan/> [Accessed 20 February 2022]. *13
khan, s., 2021. Domestic violence against Women in Pakistan. [online] Pakistan Today. Available at: <https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/03/10/domesticviolence-against-women-in-pakistan/> [Accessed 20 February 2022]. *14
AllAboutLifeChallenges.org. 2022. Causes Of Domestic Violence. [online] Available at: <https://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/causes-of-domestic-violencefaq.htm#:~:text=Causes%20Of%20Domestic%20Violence%201%20An%20environment%20where,precursor%20to%20domestic%20violence.%20...%20More%2
0items...%20> [Accessed 25 February 2022]. *15
smith, s., 2021. Solutions To Domestic Violence. [online] Marriage Advice - Expert Marriage Tips & Advice. Available at:
<https://www.marriage.com/advice/domestic-violence-and-abuse/solutions-to-domestic-violence/> [Accessed 25 February 2022].
*16