In an increasing number of countries, the family gatherings around the table is seen less than before. This essay will first discuss the underlying reason for this inclination and secondly the negative impact on society.
On the one hand, the primary cause of why the family dinners are so rare is that family members do not have enough time to allocate for such valuable activities. Nowadays, a growing number of people overwork as they can’t manage their time properly during the working hours. There is no doubt that when persons return to their home exhausted, they meet their prior needs including taking a shower,eating, and sleeping. Therefore, day by day this routine made individuals accustomed to do activities alone rather than with their families. For instance, avarage white-collar in Japan, spend quality time with their family once in a week.
On the other hand, it is commonly acknowledged that having meals with relatives cement the family bonds and deepen the relationship among the members. When individuals have limited time to be around their families, they tend to loosen their ties with them. The less they are involved in the family events, the more isolated they feel. Additionally, it may has detrimental effect on their mental health if they detach from their loved ones. Consequently, it is not only harmful for the families but also for the whole society as they function in a dismal mood. One clear example is the report of “Ohayo” magazine in Japan, which claims that 85% of the salarymen display introverted behavior towards their family due to not socializing with their children and wives during meal times.
From what has been discussed above, we may conclude that the poor work-life balance leads to the absence of family meals, which has an adverse effect on families or society as a whole, causing them to become separated from their relatives and stressed.