FAMILY

DefinitionThe Family is a small group consisting ordinarily of

father, mother, one or more children and sometimes near

or distant relatives. The word ‘family’ has been taken over

from Latin word ‘Famulus’, which means servant.

Originally family consists of a man, woman with a child

or children and servants.

M.F Nimkoff says that “Family is a more or less durable association of husband and wife with or without child, or a man or woman alone, with children.”

Eliot and Merrill: Family is “The biological social unit composed of husband, wife and children.”

MacIver: Family is a group defined by sex relationship

sufficiently precise and enduring to provide for the

procreation and upbringing of children.

 

Francis. T. Brown: The basic unit of social structure in

every society is the family.

Theories regarding origin or evolution of family

Lewis Morgan’s Theory

Lewis Morgan (1818-1881) in his book “Ancient Society” dealt

with family. He tried to find out the origin of human civilization in

his book. Morgan showed that did not exist from the beginning of

human life; rather it developed through a process of evolution.

According to Morgan the original state of mankind was one of

sexual promiscuity. In this state unrestricted sexual relationship

existed among the men and women. The children born were the

children of whole community.

What are the different types of family found in the world?

On the basis of type of marriage

(a) Monogamous Family: In this family, the married couple and their children stay. It is formed on the basis of a single marriage.(b)Polygamous Family: When one male or a female marries more than one female or male, a polygamous family is formed. This type of family is neither common in modern societies, nor it bears the approval of the society.

On the basis of descent and authority (a) Matriarchal Families: In such families the mother holds the major authority. The mother and her family stay together and the family name of the mother's side is given to her children. The husband comes to stay with the wife's relatives.

(b) Patriarchal Families: The authority in such a family lies with the father. The wife goes to stay with her husband and his relatives after their marriage. Children carry father's name. The father holds the authority to take major decisions.

On the basis of size

(a) Nuclear Family: It is also called primary family. It refers to such families in which a husband, his wife and their children stay together.(b) Joint Family: It is also called extended family. Husband, wife, their children and husband's relatives stay together. Thus it is an association or group of two or more nuclear families.

On the basis of community

(a) Rural Family: A rural family may be defined as a group of persons constituting a family which lives in an agricultural or open country environment. It is generally characterized by a relatively early age of marriage, high birth rate and low divorce rate.(b) Urban Family: Such families generally dwell in cities. They have the small size, higher age of marriage, secular outlook, freedom of women and less attachment to traditions.

On the basis of orientation and procreation

(a) Family of Orientation: This is the family in which an individual takes birth. In this family along with the individual, his parents and siblings stay together.(b) Family of Procreation: This is the family which an individual establishes or adopts after marriage. This family comprises the individual, his wife and children produced after marriage. Any individual can be a member of either or both types of families.

On the basis of relationships

(a) Consanguineous Family: It refers to those families in which blood relatives stay together. In addition to husband and wife, other blood relatives also reside and live in the family.

 (b) Conjugal Family: That family constitutes husband, wife and their children. Such families are smaller in size and less stable. In such families, the marriage based relations have more importance. The emotional and affectional bonds between the members are strong.

On the basis of religion:(a) Hindu Family: In this type of family, marriage is considered to be compulsory and important ritual. Generally, it is monogamous family with joint family system. Culture and traditions have important roles to play in day-to-day life. The trend is now shifting from joint family system towards nuclear family.(b) Muslim Family: Marriage is considered compulsory in this type of family also. Mostly polygamous trend is seen in Muslim family. They are quite orthodox and women are strictly kept in well and granted very little or no freedom.(c) Christian Family: Monogamous families are a tradition in this community also. Generally, nuclear families are found and boys and girls are given equal importance and freedom.

On the basis of culture In this respect, there are two types of culture, i.e., Western culture and Eastern culture and on this basis the families also can be classified. (a) Families with Western Culture: The Western culture gives equal status to men and women. The work, the responsibilities and the rights are equally shared between husband and wife. The families have nuclear set-up in most cases.(b) Families with Eastern Culture: Mostly joint or extended families are found in this culture. Rural families are common. Parents in old age are looked after by the family. They are closely bound to their culture and traditions.

Functions of a family (1) Stable Satisfaction of Sex need: This is the Primary and essential function of family. Sex instinct is the natural urge of human being. The satisfaction of this need requires that both male and female should live together as life partners. It is the family where the husband and wife can satisfy their sex instincts easily and comfortably. Without family the satisfaction of sex need is almost socially quite impossible. A family not only satisfies but also provides the appropriate mechanism through marriage to regulate sexual behavior of husband and wife.

(2) Reproduction or procreation:Reproduction or procreation is another essential function of family. The family along with regulating the sexual behavior in relation to the satisfaction of sexual needs secures a legitimate basis for procreation. Since the inception of family, it has been performing this fundamental function. This function of family contributes to the continuity of family and ultimately perpetuates the human race as a whole.

(3) Protection and care of the young:Protection and care of the children is another essential function of family. It is regarded as an institution par excellence for the production and rearing of children. It is true that no other institution can take required care of the child like family. The child at birth is complete helpless and cannot survive at all without the help of the family. It is the family which provides care, protection, security (Physical, mental) and fulfills all other needs to make him fit in the society.

(4) Socializing Functions:Family is one of the primary agents of socialization. Family members teach the child the norms, value morals, beliefs and ideals of society. In the family the children first learn what is good and bad, what is right and wrong. They develop specific habits, traits of character, attitudes and values. The senior members of the family pass the family culture to the new generation thought socialization process. Thus, family acts an instrument of culture transmission.

(5) Provision of a home: Family makes a provision of a home or a

common habitation for its members. Here both husband and if live together for

procreation, protection and care of the children. It is a place of multifarious activities. All the members of the family depend on home for comfort, protection and peace. It is that institution which provides the mental or the emotional satisfaction. Members of the family exchange their love, sympathy and affection among themselves

NUCLEAR FAMILY

Definition According to Mitchell ,it can be defined as

“a small group composed of husband and wife and immature children which constitute a unit apart from the rest of the community.”

It simple words, a nuclear family is one which consists of the husband, wife and their children.

After their marriage, the children leave their parental home and establish their separate household.

It is an autonomous unit free from the control of the elders.

Since there is a physical distance between parents and their married children.

Recent trend in the modern nuclear family

Its structure has changed ,its function have been altered and its nature has been affected.

Various factors-social,economic,educational,legal,cultural,scientific,tecnological,etc.have been responsible for this.

A few significant trends may be denoted:

(1)Industrialisation: The Industrial Revolution of the 18th

century and the consequent birth of the factory system of production affected the economic functions of the family.

(2)Urbanisation: Industrialisation and Urbanisation very often go together. Cities are growing in size and in number. Family is cut to size. Families are now the smallest .

(3)Democratic Ideals: Democracy assures equality and provides

liberty to all, to women too. Women now play not only domestic roles but also economic and political roles.

(4)The decline of the influence of mores and the religious beliefs, and the spread of secular attitude:

The religious function of the family have diminished.

(5)The spirit of individualism and romantic love:

Today it is widespread.

(6)Economic independence of women:

Employment opportunities Works in various office

(7)Emancipation of women: Women are now liberated from the chain

of traditionalism.

(8)Decline in birth rate: The size of family is becoming smaller.

(9)Divorce: LOVE is no more sacramental. Love at

first sight and divorce at next is quite common.

(10)Parent-Youth conflict: Interpersonal conflict increasing Generation gap

Functions of modern nuclear family

(1) Stable satisfaction of sex need No other agency has been able to take

up this task to the satisfaction of the members.

(2) Procreation and upbringing of children:

The family is regarded as the proper authority to produce children and to bring them up.

(3) Socialisation of children: Social norms, values and ideals are

picked up by the child in the family only.

(4) Provision of home: It is a happy place to live in both for

parents and their children. Other agencies such as hotels. hostels

etc. may provide shelter to the members but not the needed love and affection.

The Joint Family

Definition The joint family is also known as

‘individual family’ and sometimes as ‘extended family’.

Its normally consists of members who at least belong to the three generations: husband and wife. their unmarried children, and their married as well as unmarried grandchildren.

The joint family is one which consists of members related through blood and spread over several generations living together under a common roof and work under a common head.

Characteristics of Joint Family

1. Depth of generation: Three or more generations 2. Common roof regular contract, discuss educational

and employment problem. 3. Common kitchen: Normally eldest female members

supervises the work at the kitchen. Women serve the food to men first

4.Common worship: Members of the family take part in

common worship, rites and ceremonies. 5.Common property: The head of the family manages the

family property like a trustee.

6.Exercise of authority: Eldest male member commands others.

7.Arranged marriages:

8.Procreation:

9.Indentification with obligations towards the family:

Every members has his own duties and obligations towards the family.

The senior most member of the family acts as the guide for other members.

10. Self sufficiency: It used to meet the economic, recreational,

medical, educational and other needs of the member.

Merits of Joint Family

1.Stable and durable

2.Ensure economic progress Basic needs-food ,clothing and shelter a

first condition of economic progress. It prevents the sub-division and

fragmentation of land-holdings and helps scientific farming.

3.Ensure economy of expenditure No single member has an absolute right in

family property.

4. Secures the advantages of division of labour

The work is distributed among the members on the basis of age and sex.

5. Serves as a social insurance company For the people such as orphans, widows, the

deserted, divorced the joint family serves as a social insurance company. It gives them food, shelter and protection.

6.Provide social security In times of accident, crises and

emergencies one can rely on one’s joint family for the needed help.

7.Provided leisure Work is shared by all the members on the

basis of age, sex, experience, they get more leisure time. Woman are the main beneficiaries of leisure.

8. Provides recreation also

Childish play between the too aged and the little babies, the funny talks of the old.

9. Helps social control The joint family by exercising control over

the behaviour of its member acts as an agency of social control.

10. Provides psychological security

11. Promotes cooperative virtues Joint family is said to be the breeding

ground of love, self help, cooperation, tolerance, discipline, loyalty, sacrifice virtues of life.

Demerits of Joint Family

1. Retards the development of personality

The joint family does not provide enough scope for the members to develop qualities of adventure, self-determination, industriousness, etc. The elder once take up too many responsibilities and the younger ones are overprotected.

2.Damage individual initiative and enterprise

The joint family does not provide proper opportunities for the members to develop their talents.

Any new enterprise or adventure on the part of the young people is discouraged by the head of the family.

3. Narrows down loyalties

Joint family makes the members to develop narrow-mindedness.

4. Promotes idleness The joint family is said to be home of idlers

and drones.

5. Not favourable for savings and investment

There is no inspiration for the accumulation of capital and investment.

6. The centre of quarrels The joint family is said to be hotbed of

quarrels and bickering especially among the womenfolk.

7. Denies privacy Since the joint family is always

overcrowded, privacy is denied to the newly wedded couple.

They rarely get opportunities to talk about their personal matters. Hence they fail to develop intimacy.

8. Affects Socialisation of children

Due to the lack of intimacy and privacy between the husband and wife, the socialisation of children is affectedvery badly.

9. Undermines the status of women They are made to work like servants.

They are not given sufficient freedom to express and to develop their personality.

10. Encourages litigation Normally disputes over the common

property crop us at the time of partition.

11. Favours uncontrolled reproduction

Higher birth rate

12. Limits social mobility

The joint family is said to be more conservative in nature.

13. Encourages nepotism Some are the opinion that the joint family

is the root cause of nepotism and discrimination.

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