Sharing her views on why fewer large families are living together, SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Straughan said that young married couples generally prefer to live on their own as they value privacy and most prefer to be able to start their new life together as a couple in their own homes. They also marry later, so they have more financial resources to facilitate this option, she added. Prof Straughan is a council member on the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Families For Life Council, which champions and promotes resilient families.