Introduction to Sociology

FAMILY
There are five social institutions namely, family institution, education
institution

religion

institution,

political

institution,

economic

institution .So all these institutions are inter related and inter linked
with each other as the part of human body. As for as the family
institution is concerned. Family as the social institution performs
several functions.
Kingsly Davis, Specks the four main functions of the family.
i.

Reproduction.

ii.

Maintenance.

iii.

Placement.

iv.

Socialization.

Family is the most important primary group in society. It is the

simplest and the most elementary form of society. It is outstanding
primary group because child develops its basic attitudes with in family.
The family is the first group in which we found ourselves.
The family as an institution is universal. It is the most permanent and
the most pervasive of all social institutions. Family is a small group
consisting ordinary of father, mother, one or more children and some
times near or distant relatives.

Introduction to Sociology
MEANING OF FAMILY.
The word Family has been taken over from Latin word Famulus which
means servants. Thus originally family consisted of a man and women
with a child or children and servants.
The meaning of family can be explained better by the following
definitions.
Merrill.
Family is the biological social unit composed of husband, wife and
children.
M.F. nimkoff.
Says that family is a more or less durable association of husband and
wife with or without child or of a man or women alone with children.
Ogburn.
Family is more or less durable association of husband and wife and
children.
Clare.
Family is a system of relationship existing between parents and
children.
TYPE OF FAMILY:
TYPE OF FAMILY BY AUTHORITY:

Patriarchal Family.

Matriarchal Family.

Democratic Family.

Introduction to Sociology
TYPE OF FAMILY BY STRUCTURE

Joint family system /Extended family

Nuclear family.

TYPE OF FAMILY BY SETTLEMENT:

Patrilocal Family.

Matrilocal Family.

Neo local Family.

TYPE OF FAMILY BY LINEAGE.

Patrilenial Family.

Matrilenial Family.

Bilateral Family.

TYPE OF FAMILY BY AUTHORITY:

Patriarchal Family.
Patriarchal family is also known as father- centered or father
dominated family. With is family he exercises authority and he is the
owner and administrator of the family property. In the whole family
matters he is the final voice and opinion. He is all in all and the all
family members subordinate to him. All the major decisions pertaining
to family affairs are taken by him only. No body has the authority to
question to him. But typical patriarchal families are not found today in
the modern industrial families.

Introduction to Sociology
Matriarchal Family.
Matriarchal family is also known as mother- centerd or mother
dominated family. She is the head of the family and she exercises
authority. She is the owner of the property and the manager of the
house hold. All the members subordinate to her. She is all in all and the
social thinker says that matriarchal family has been the earliest type of
the family.
Democratic Family.
In democratic family father and mother enjoy the equal status and
opportunities have emerged. These types of family exist in industrial
societies. We can call them equalitarian family. They also called
modern families.
TYPE OF FAMILY BY STRUCTURE
Joint family system /Extended family:
The joint family system is also known as undivided family and some
times extended family. It normally consists of members who at least
belong to three generations, husband, and wife, their unmarried and
married children as well as unmarried grand children. Joint family
system mostly exists in our rural Pakistani areas.
Husband + wife + Married & Unmarried Children + Married &
Unmarried grand children
Definition of Joint Family:

Introduction to Sociology
i.

The joint family is a mode of combining smaller families into

larger family units through the extension of three or more
generations including at least grand parents, parents and
children.

ii.

Joint family may be defined as A group of people who

generally live under one roof, who use common kitchen, who
hold common property.

CHARACTERISTICS OF JOINT FAMILY SYSTEM:

Depth of generations.
The joint family system consists of people of three or more generations
including at least grand parents, parents and children. Sometimes
other kith and kin such as uncles, aunts, cousins and great grandsons
also live in the joint family itself.
Common roof.
Members of the joint family normally reside to gather under the same
house hold. Due to scarcity of accommodation or due to educational
and employment problems, members of the joint family may reside
separately. Still, they try to retain regular contacts and the feeling of
belonging to the same family.
Common kitchen.
Members eat the food prepared jointly at the common kitchen.
Normally the eldest female member of the family supervises the work
at the kitchen.

Introduction to Sociology
Common property.
The members hold a common property. The head of the family
manages the family property like a trustee. The total earnings of the
members are pooled in to a family treasury and family expenses are
met without that.
Arranged marriages.
In the joint family, the head considers it as his privilege to arrange the
marriages of the members. The individuals right to select his/ her life
partner is undermined. The younger members rarely challenge their
decisions and arrangements. But now a -days, the feelings of younger
ones are being given due to weight age.
Procreation
The size of the joint family is by nature bigger. It is found to be
associated with higher rate of production. It is so because in the past
procreation was regarded as a religious duty. Members rarely practiced
birth control measures. But today the situation has changed.
Merits & Demerits of the Joint Family System:
Merits of Joint family

Demerits of Joint

family
Stable and durable.

Retards the development of

Ensure the economic progress.

Serves as a social insurance

personality
Damages individual initiative
Narrows down loyalties.

company.
Provides social security.

Promotes idleness.
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Introduction to Sociology
Provides psychological security.

Not favorable for saving and

Helps social control.

Promotes cooperative virtue.

investment
Denies privacy
Undetermined the status of
women.

Causes for the changes in the joint family system

1. Influence of Education
Modern system of education introduced by the British Government
affected joint family in several ways. It has brought about a change
in the attitudes, beliefs, values and ideologies of the people.
Education which is spreading even amongst the females has
created and aroused the individualistic feelings. Education in this
way brining changes in relations in the family. As the level of
education rises, the percentage of those in favor of nuclear families
increases and the percentage of those supporting joint family living
decreases.
2. Impact of Industrialization
Factory system of production, new system of organization and
management and new style of life has also affected the joint family.
It has made young men and women leave their joint family to far
away places in search of better prospects and employment. Mostly

Introduction to Sociology
we see that educated person in urban areas are less in favor of joint
family norms.
3. Influence of Urbanization
Cities provide opportunities to women also for gainful employment
and when women start earning; she seeks freedom in many
spheres. She tries to break away more and more from her
husbands family of orientations.
4. Change in Marriage System
Change in the age at marriage, freedom in mate-selection and
change in the attitude towards marriage have also affected our
family system. Modern young men and women not only marry at a
late age but also take personal decision in this matter. They do not
wait for parental permission. Parents role in mate-selection
5. Influence of Western Values
The western values relating to modern science, rationalism,
individualism, equality, democracy, freedom of women etc.

The

modern educated youths who came under the influence of these

values took the earliest opportunity to become free from the tight
grip of the joint family.
6. Awareness among women.
Increasing female education, employment opportunities for women
created awareness among women particularly in the middle and upper

Introduction to Sociology
class. They also sought chances of becoming free from the
authoritarian hold of the joint family.
Nuclear family.
It can be defines as a small group composed of husband and wife and
immature children. In simple words nuclear family is one which
consists of the husband, wife and their children. Soon after their
marriage, the children leave their parental home and establish their
separate household. Hence nuclear family is an autonomous unit free
from the control of the elders. Since there is physical distance between
parents and their married children, there is minimum interdependence
between them. Thus nuclear family is mostly independent. The
American family is a typical example of the modern independent
nuclear family. The nuclear family is a characteristic of all the modern
industrial societies.
TYPE OF FAMILY BY SETTLEMENT:
Patrilocal Family.
After the marriage the wife may reside in husbands parental home.
Matrilocal Family.
She may stay her parental home to which the husband pays occasional
visits to her.
Neo local Family.
Both of them may establish a separate home of their own.
Husband + wife + unmarried children

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TYPE OF FAMILY BY LINEAGE.
Patrilenial Family.
The decent may be traced through the male lines / husband lines.
Matrilenial Family.
The decent may be traced through the female lines/ mother line.
Bilateral Family.
Descent may be traced through both lines.

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