Family is essential to the human experience. Whether you’re born into your family or choose one, community is integral to your well-being. However, many non-traditional families still face significant social stigma that complicates life. Supporting those who don’t resemble the typical nuclear family can offer various benefits.
How do communities grow by being accepting of non-traditional family models? Here are several perks doing so can offer, plus more about families that don’t fit into society’s boxes.
What Are Non-Traditional Families?
Non-traditional families are households that don’t look like the traditional nuclear family — a husband, a wife and a few kids. They might be a single parent with children, a same-sex couple, blended families that bring together kids from different marriages, those formed through adoption or caregivers that aren’t the child’s biological parents.
Many of these family structures still face stigma from their neighbors and even their own families. Onlookers may create unnecessary stress by not believing a kid belongs with their parent or pass unfair judgments on the way they live. They may also struggle with adoption necessities and custody battles.
4 Reasons Why Communities Benefit from Non-Traditional Families
A community will only experience benefits when they accept non-traditional families. Here are four reasons a town or city will grow by supporting and celebrating those outside the norm.
- null
When you befriend people with backgrounds that differ from your own, you gain a more rounded worldview. Instead of seeing others and making snap judgments, you’ll understand why a particular family might act a certain way or do specific things. You and your kids will be less judgemental and more accepting of those who are different.
- null
Unfortunately, due to redistricting, some school districts fare better than others. In fact, schools serving mostly white children get $23 billion more in funding than mostly non-white districts educating the same number of students. Gerrymandering from discriminatory politicians ensured specific communities had less access to what they needed to develop, harming the futures of the kids who grow up there.
When a non-traditional family moves in, they could be coming from a less-than-ideal situation. Being accepting of these families means their children get better educational opportunities, helping them develop into productive citizens. These kids could be the next prominent scientist, inventor or businessperson — you name it. Enabling these avenues of education can bring the community together and promote success in the future.
This benefit extends past the younger members of the family. If a community supports its non-traditional families, the caregivers may feel more accepted in the neighborhood. They may feel more comfortable getting a job, starting a business or participating in town events. Who knows what boons they could bring to the local economy?
- null
Like any household, non-traditional families can fall on hard times. For example, a single parent could have lost their spouse or grandparents may have lost a child, meaning they now need to care for their grandkids. While 30%-40% of families will get an inheritance sometime in their life, one out of three people who collect inheritance money will have no savings within two years.
That can put a significant amount of stress on the caregivers, preventing them from getting quality time with their children due to how much they need to work. Instead of letting another community member suffer, the town may unite to aid this household. Some can offer home-cooked meals, while others can help care for the kids while their parents work or handle legal issues. Doing so enables the neighborhood bond while ensuring the children grow up safely.
- null
Children are much less judgmental than adults, but some might have already picked up some discriminatory behaviors from parents. While it’s not their fault, it’s something communities can work on to encourage each other to be kind. Kids who experience diversity at a young age gain better social skills and are more accepting of those with different lifestyles. Additionally, they tend to reject deals that give unfair advantages and disadvantages.
Teaching children acceptance while they’re young can have greater chances of career success down the road, benefitting the community. They may become a local high-earning business owner, a doctor who succeeds by connecting with their patients or a non-profit founder that helps the town. By making connections through play, kids break down barriers and create a better neighborhood.
Support and Celebrate Your Non-Traditional Neighbors
Communities benefit from uplifting their non-traditional families because they enable often-judged people to feel more at home. When those households feel accepted, they can become productive members of society that boost the local economy and foster kindness in their neighbors. When a non-nuclear family moves in, hesitate on passing judgment — your support could make a difference.
WRITTEN BY
Devin Partida