Chapter 25

THE FAMILY

the Famiy-Functions of
of Family-Distinctivethe Family:ofMatriarchal
Features
Meaning and Characteristics Family-Pa-
Family Patterns-Typesof Nuclear Family
the Famil-Changing Nuclear Family-Recent Trends
in the Modern
triarchal Family-The Definition and Characteris-
Functionsof theModern Nuclear Family-The Joint Family: in the Joint Family
for the Changes
tics-Merits and Demerits of Joint Family-Causes
System-Disintgration of Joint Family in India.

The family is the most important primary group in society. It is thesimplest and the most
lt is the first and the most
elementary form of society. It is the most basic of allsocial groupings:
immediate social environment to which a child is exposed. It is an outstanding primary group, be-
cause, it is in the family that the child develops its basic attitudes.
Further, of all the groups that affect the lives of individuals in society none touches them so
intimately or socontinuously as does the family.From the moment of birth to the moment of death
the family exerts a constant influence. The family is the first group in which we find ourselves. It
provides for the most enduring relationship in one form or other. Every one of us grows up in a
family and every one of us too will be a member of one family or other.
The family, almost without question, is the most important of anyofthe groups that human
experience offers. Other groups we join for longer or shorter periods of time for the satisfaction of
this interest or that. The family, on the contrary, is with us always. Or rather more precisely, we are
with it." -Robert Bierstedt.
The family, as an institution is universal. It is the most permanent and the most pervasive of all
social institutions. All societies both large and small, primitive and civilised, ancient and modem,
have some form of family or the other. No one knows, or can know, how or when the
It is safe to surmise that the family in some form will always be with us. With
family began.
the mind can imagine, the family will continue to be a central and indeed
regards to the funure a
a nuclear component
o
sociery. "There may be no families in Utopia, and none in paradise, but the planet we know best wll
probably always contain them". -Robert Bierstedt.
It may be noted that our purpose here, is not to
give counsels on family relations but to acquire
sociological knowledge regarding Jamily. The family a small
is group consisting
mother, one or more children and sometimes near or distant relatives. It should beordinarily of tatnc
noted that it is nor
our purpose here to offer advice on the
age at which people should marry, on how to
husband or a wife, how to get along with a difficult mate, how choose
many children to beget, what to du
about a mother-in-law problem, how to avoid divorce, and so on. Our
study is confined to the famliy
348
 349
T h e
F a m i b

.ial phenomenon. Our approach is sociological. We are interested in the faimily both as an
an and as an institution, but we give no counsel or advice as to how to be happy though
2590C14
marnied
1. MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS

he word
The
'Family' has been taken over from Latin word 'Famulus which mean.i a servant. in
Law the
word denoted a group
of producers and slaves and other servants as ivell as mem--
Romnnected by common descent or marriage. Thus, originally, family, consisted ofa man and
with achild or children and servants. The meaning offamily can be explained better by tne
woman w i t h a d

olowingdeinitions:

and wife
1. M.F.Nimkojj says that "Family is a more or less durable association of husban.d
ar without
child, or of a man or woman alone, with children".
ties of marriage, blood or
2. Burgess and Locke. "Family is a group of persons united by
with each othe:r in their
ontionconstituting a single household interacting and intercommunicating ar nd sister,
son and daughter, brother
adopt

eDective social roles of husband and wife, father and mother,

respe
c o m m o n culture"
creating a wife and
3. Eliot and Merrill: Family is "The biological social unit composed of husband,
children"
sex relationship sufficiently precise
and enduring to
4. Maciver: Family is "a group defined by
provideforthe procreation and upbringing children".
of
General Characteristics Family
of the
into existence when a man and woman estat lish
) A Mating Relationship. family comes
A
between them.
mating relation or ithe
husband may be selected by parents or by the elders,
() Selection of Mates. Wife
or
this selectior.
of the individuals concermed. Various rules govern
choice may be left to the wishes of
The mating relationship is established through the institution
(it) A Form of Marriage.
the society according to which the indi
-

Marriage is an institutional arrangement made by

mariage. assume any one of the
viduals establishmarital relationships among themselves. Marriage may
or group marriage.
forms-monogamy, polygamy, polyandry a distinctive name.
family is known or recognised by
(iv) A System of Nomenclature. Every mode of tracing the descent.
the Descent: Every family has its own
() A Way of Tracing Descent may
relationship berween individuals.
Descent refers to the social recognition ofbiological De-
or through the female line (Matrilineal
be traced through the male line (Patrilineal Descent)
Descent).
Cent) or through both the lines (Bilateral
a or a household to live
home in. Aterthe
marriage
(vi) A Common Residence. Family requires or Virilocal Residence)
or she may stay

thewife may reside in husband's parental home (Patrilocal Uxorilocal Resi

occasional visits (Matrilocalor
her parental home to which the husband pays
n establish a separate home of
their (Neolocal Residence).
own
Gence) or both of them may needs of its
satisfaction of the economic
(vi) An Economic Provision. Family provides for the
members.
FEATURES OF THE FAMILY
2. DISTINCTIVE
excellence. Of all the social organisations,
large or small,
The family organisation
is par
the central position in our socialstruc
an
1s of the greatest sociological significance. It occupies features
ly a unique position
in society. Its distinctive
other institutions, enjoys
.he family, unlike
may be noted here. concludes
250 societies, Murdock
After having made an analysis of more than does not
1.Universality.
thatt Lne There is no human society
in which some form of the family
a is
family universal.
350
Soci Institutions
appear nor has there ever been such society. B. Malinowski writes: "T The typical
consisting of rvother, father, and their progeny, is found in all communities, savage, family,
a
s
barbariBoup
e d . The irresistihle sex need, theugefor reproduction and the common economic
contributed te omic nerians, andneeds have
this universality
Emotional Basis. The farmily is grounded in emotions and sentiments. It is based
impulses of nating procreation, maternal devotion, fraternal love and parental care. It is huitur
Sentiments f love, affection, nt u
sympathy, co-operation and friendship
. Limited Size.
The family is smaller in size. As a primary group its size is neceso
It
imited. seems to be the smallest social unit. The biological conditions have also
to its small
ontribute
cessarily
size.
4.Formative Influence. The family is the earliest social environment which surrounds,
and educ etes the child. It trains
t
shapes the personality and moulds the character of its members. It emoti
aly concditions the child. It is the otion
and the nurse 'nursery of human nature', and the breedin8 ground of our mor
of our loyalties'. tores
S. Nuciear Position in the Social Structure. The family is the nucleus
organisations. The whole social structure is built of of all other ocial
soe:
family units. It influences the whole life ne
society.
6.
and
Responsibility of the Members. The member of the family has certain responsibilities,
obligations. The smooth running of family depends on how best the members dutie-
respcinsibilities in co-ordination with the individuals of the
discharge their
times of crisis
other As family. Maclver points out, "
men may work and fight and die for their country, but they toil for their families all
their lives".
7. Social
Regulation. The
family is peculiarly guarded both by soCial taboos and
reyulations. The
society takes precaution to safeguard this organisation from by legal
down: by divorce, desertion or any possible break.
8. The Permanent and
separation.
nent. Since it is based on the
Temporary Nature of the Family. The family as an institution is
as an association
organic and emotional nature of man, it continues to exist. But perma-
may be temporary in character. These
cal significance of the characteristics indeed reveal the family
family. sociologi
3. FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
The family as a social institution performs several functions.
pressed regarding the functions of family. Kingsley Davis Various opinions have been ex-
ily: () Reproduction, (i) Maintenance, (ii) speaks of four main functions
of the fam
Ogburn and Nimkoff have mentioned six
Placement, and (iv) Socialisation.
nomic, (ii) Recreational, (iv) Protective, major functions of family: (1)
four functions of the (v) Religious, and (vi) Educational.Affectional,
Reed
(i) Eco-
family: (i) Race perpetuation, (i) has described
tion of sex needs, and
(iv) Economic functions. Socialisation,, (iüi) Regulation and satisfac-
Primary and Secondary or Essential and
Maclver classifies the functions of
Non-essential Functions
tions. family intotwo types:
According to him, the essential functions include Essential and Non-essential
production rearing of children, and (ii) provision ofa
and (i) the stable func
satisfaction of sex need, (u)
he includes,
religious, educational, economic, health and home. Under the non-essential functions
The Primary Functions recreation, and other functions.
Some of the functions of
family are basic to its continued
essential functions by Maclver. They may also be regarded as existence. They are referred to a
explained below. Primary functions of family.
They are
 heFamil
351
ns Stable Satisfaction of Sex Need. Sex drive is powerful in human beings. Man is susceptible
a l stimulation throughout his life. The sex need is irresistible also. It motivates man to seek an
up
tihed basis of its satisfaction. Family regulates the sexual behaviour of man by its agent, the
d
e
age. Thus it provides for the satisfaction of the sex need for man. Even Manu, the Hindu Law-
aand Vatsyayana, the author of Kamasutra, have stated that sexual satisfaction is one of the
aims o f family
life.
mainReproduction or Procreation. Reproductive activity is carried on by all lower and higher
n

als. But it is an activity that needs control or regulation. The result of sexual satisfaction is
Soduction: The process of reproduction is institutionalised in the family. Hence it assumes a

larity and a stability that all societies recognise as desirable. Thus family introduces a legitimacy
the act of reproduction. All societies surround this function with norms and support them with
into
ong sanctions. By fulfilling its reproductive function family has made it possible to have the
str
ation of species and the perpetuation of the human race.
propagatio

i ) Production and Rearing ofthe Child. The family gives the individual his life and a chance
to survive. We owe
our life to the family. Th human infancy is a prolonged one. The child which is
helpless at the time of birth is given the needed protection of the family. Further, family is an insti-
mtion par excellence, for the production and rearing of children. No other institution can as effi
ciently bring up the child as can the family. This can be referred to as the function of "maintenance
also.
(v) Provision of Home. Family provides the honme for its members. The desire for home is
srongly felt in men and women. Children are borm and brought up in homes only. Though, often
children are born in hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, ete., they are nursed and nourished in the
homes only. Even the parents who work outside are dependent on home for comfort, protection and
peace. Home remains still the 'sweet' home.
(Family-An Instrument of Culture Transmission and An Agentof Socialisation.The family
servesas an instrument of culture transmission. The family guarantees not only the biological conti-
nuity of the human race but alsothe cultural continuity of the society of which it is a part. It transmits
ideas and ideologies, folkways and mores, customs and traditions, beliefs and values from one gen-
eration to the next.
The family is an agent of socialisation also. Socialisation is its service to the individual.
Socialisation is the process whereby one internalises the norms of one's groups so that a distinct
self emerges unique to the individual. The family indoctrinates the child withthe values, the mor
als, beliefs, and ideals of the society. It prepares its children for participation in larger world and
acquaints them with a larger culture. It is a chief agency which prepares the new generation for life
in community. It emotionally conditions the child. It lays down the basic plan of the personality.
it shapes the personaliy of the child in
ndeed, child. Family is mechanism for disciplining the
a
tems of cultural goals. In short, it transforms the infant barbarian into the civilised adult.
(v) Status Ascribing Function. The family also performs a pair offuntions-(9status ascrip-
ion jor the individual, and (ii) societal identification for the individual. Statuses are of twosex
kinds:

Ascribed and achieved. The family provides the ascribed statuses. Two of these, age and are
biological ascriptions. Others, however, are social ascriptions. It is the family that serves almost
Clusively as the conferring agency or institution.
People recognise us by our names, and our names are given to us by our family. Here, the
amily is the source of our societal identification. Various statuses are initially ascribed our fami-by
es.Our ethnic status, our nationality status, our religious status, or residential status, or class
u-sometimes our political status and our educational status as well-are all conferred upon us by

Ofcourse, these may be changed later. Wherever statuses are inherited as in the of case
l e s .
alty and nobility it is the family that serves as the controlling mechanism. Status ascription and
 352
Social
societal identification are two faces of the same process. The importance of family in this
Institutic
hardly be exaggerated. this rega..
regard can
(vii) Affectional Function. Man has his physical, as well as mental
needs. He requiro.
fulfilment of both of these needs. Family is an institution which
satisfaction and security to its individual members. It is the provides mental or the emote
the

and the dearest relationship for all its family which provides the
mosti motional
members. The individual first experiences
parental family as parents and siblings offer him love, affection intimat
sympathy and affection. Lack of af
actually damages an infant's ability to thrive. Aperson who has never been
loved is seldom ha
Secondary Functions of Family appy
In addition to the above
described essential or primary functions the
secondary or non-essential functions in some family performs s
way or the other. Of these, the folowing
() Economic Functions. The
family fulfils the economic needs of its members. This ncte
may be
the traditional function of
family. Previously, the family was an economic unit. Goods has hebeen
duced in the family. Men used
members used to work
to work in
family or in farms for the production of goods.were noro-
together for this purpose. It was to a great extent self-sufficient. Famil
division of labour between
that is, between men and A clear c
situation has changed. The sexes, women, was evident. But
different economic activitiesfamily members do not work together at home. They are
today, the
outside the home. They are no engaged in
labour. longer held together by division af
The economic role of
modern family is
has affected family. The considerably modified. The process of
centre of
production
giving job only to the individual worker and has moved from home to the factory. The industrialisation
which are consumed not to the entire
family. The factory is producing factorv is
within the family.
producing one. Its members are busy with Thus, family has become more a goods
Family is thus slowly transferring its "earning wages" rather than with consuming unit than a
tion of economic functions to the external "making a living"
property is embedded with the agencies. Still, the institu-
(i) Educational Functions. The family.
spite of great changes, the family provides the basis for the child's
habits important to adult family still gives the child his basic formal learning. In
with his family will be participation in social life. "The manner in
training in the social attitudes and
carried over to his which he learns how to
police and other agents of social interactions with school
authorities, religious leaders,along
get
outside the home and control". When the child the
family. He extends his grows up, he learns to
his emotions, and his
social habits interests to other manage situations
develop groups. With all this his
the mother, father
and other
family
until he weans
himself from the intelligence,
(iii) Religious Functions. The members. original dependence on
children leam from their family is a centre for the
of parents
religious quest. The family used tovarious religious religious training of the children. The
virtues. Previously, the
homes were also centres
worshipping God, etc. Even today, it isteach
in the
the children the
religious values, moral precepts, way
standards that are to family that the foundations o
its members. It guide the children are laid down for
is throughout
through the family that the their life. The family meets the
the moral

a close
(iv) The
Recreational religious
Functions. At one time, inheritance spiritual
is passed on to
the next
needs o
ing, playing indoorReading aloud, visiting relatives, recreation was largely family based. generati
solidarity.
It
gathering among games, etc., brought family reunions, church
socials, fostereu
together
themselves in each other's the entire singing, 0an
among themselves or homes. Children family. Elders would
would organise their organise socia
recreational together with other
the same
children.
activities. The effect of this Often parents and children own
recreatiou
Recreation is on the would join togetner
signed for family-wide
now
increasingly organised outside cohesion
the
of the
family was
considerabi
participation. Whether in the form family. Modern recreation is
of movies, sports events, not
plays,
The
F'amily
353
Adi', tennis, dinner parties, or 'yakshagana', it is designed for the couple or individual partici
kabnddi

paton,

4. THE CHANGING FAMILY PATTERNS

The family as a basic social institution has been undergoing change. The modern family radi-
, differs from that of the traditional one. The family has never been at rest. Both in its structure
Aunctions changes have taken place. Some of these changes may be examined here.
cally

and
the Functions of the Family
anges in
Changesin
Some ofthe functions of family have radically changed today while some others have received
eattention of the public. A glance at these changes would clarify this point.
mon

1. The Sexual Regulation Function of the family has not changed much. The family through its
ent, marriage, still regulates the sexual impulse of the people. Ilicit sexual behaviour is fairly
mcommon. But it is true that in the Westem societies pre-marital and extra-marital sex relations are
uncom

on the increase.

2. The Reproductive Function of the family has suffered particularly in the Western societies
In the Westerm societies, it is said, parents no longer desire more children. Absence of children has
hecome the most glaring feature of the Western families. However, it is impossible to take away this
reproductive function of the family. The very survival of the human race is based on reproduction.
3. In the past fifty years the Parental and the Educational Functions of the family have been
shified to certain external agencies like hospitals, out-patient clinics for mothers, maternity homes,
the baby clinics, nurseries, kindergartens, ete. "The modern home is not equipped to train children
for their adult careers, because the specialised division of labour requires specialised training, which
only the specialised agency of the school can supply"-A.W. Green
4. The Protective Functions of the family have declined particularly in the West. Families are
no more the place of protection for the physically handicapped, mentally retarded, aged, diseased,
infirm and insane people. Other agencies have taken over this function. But, for the young children
it continues to provide physical and emotional protection.
5. The Economic Function of the family has been disturbed a great deal. The family is no
longer the economic unit, neither is it self-sufficient. It is no longer united by shared work, for its
members work separately. It is more a consuming unit than a producing centre. However, the family
is not completely losing this function, but it is transforming this function to some external agencies.
6. It seems that the Socialisation Function of the family is gaining increased attention particu-
larly in the Western society. An earlier generation knew little about the personality development. We
know something today of the role of emotional development, school progress, career success, physi-
cal well-being, and practically all other aspects of the good life.
7. The Status-Ascription Function has been weakened since in modern society much emphasis
Is taid on achieved status. Still, the ethnic, religious, class, residential, nationality and other kinds of
statuses are ascribed by the family to the individual at least in the initial stages in some way or other.
8. The Recreational Function of the family is losingimportance. External agencies have taken
away this function. Modern recreation is highly commercialised. Movies, dance halls, night clubs,
gambling centres have come into being. People leave home to seek these commercialised recre-
auons. But they tend to leave home as single adults or married couples, as adolescents or children,
rather than as a family unit. This has affected the cohesion of family.

Funetions Lost or Modified?

In spite of the changes that have overtaken the family, its traditional functions have been more
nodified than lost. If all ofthe functions described above were in fact totally provided outside the
Ome, it is doubtful that the family could survive. But, certain unique functions remain solely within
1amily. The "primary universal function of the family is the creation of new members of
 354
Social Institution
society-their reproduction, maintenance, status ascription, and socialisation. As
tion remains, and maintenance and socialisation are still carried on chiefly within always,repr
always
Green the famil
Some writers have expressed the opinion that at the
amily"- A.W.
itsfunctional importance very present rate of change the family me
reached. shortly. Such a fear is unfounded because, that may
stage may ne.e
"Over the
centuries, no pemanent direction of change has ever been
me in
future, the present forces of change may reach out in an unforeseen maintained
the
amily to regain its old direction
on permitt
strength and renew its old functions.-A. W. Green
Summary
From our discussion of
the family and its functions it is possible to draw at least
Sions: () The family still three conn
cal care of the children, (i)enjoys importance as a biological group for proCreation and for
There is the considerable decline in what
onclu
the phe
functions' of the family, hysi-
Ogburn calls the "institutional
economic, recreational, protective and educational,
Junction' (the socialisation function) of the (ii) the 'personali
adjustments family-"that is, those which provide for the muo
the family toamong husbands, wives, parents and children and for the
the outside adaptation of each member o
world"-have assumed importance.
TYPES OR FORMS OF THE FAMILY
ation
Sociologists have spoken of different forms or
different factors as the basis types of family. They have taken into
mentioned. for the classification of the family. A few consider.
classifications can be
)On the basis of
or
Polygynous Family. (i)marriage family has been classified into three
(i) On the basis of thePolyandrous Family, and (ii) Monogamousmajor types: (i) Polygamous
Family of Matrilocal Residence,nature of residence family can be classifiedFamily.
into three main
(i) Family of Patrilocal
Residence. Residence, and (i) Family of forms: ()
(ii) On the basis of Changing
Matrilineal Family, and (i) ancestry or descent
family can be classified into two main
Pratrilineal Family. types: ()
(iv) On the basis of the nature
Matriarchal Family, and (i) of authority
Patriarchal Family. family
can be
classified into two main
(v) On the basis of size or types. ()
(i) the Nuclearstructure
two main types and the depth of
or the generations
Single Unit Family, family can be classified into
Family. and (i) The Joint Undivided
or the
(vi) On the basis of the
classified into two main Nature of Relations among the
whom there exists sex types: () The Conjugal family members the family can be
Family which
whom there exists whatrelationship, and (i)
Consanguine consists of adult members
among
is known as
"blood Family which consists of members among
relationship"-brother
and
5. MATRIARCHAL FAMILY sister, father and son, etc.
Thematriarchal family is also known as
the mother or the woman the
is the head of the mother-centred or
property and the manager of the family and she exercises mother-dominated family. Here,
Morgan, Bachopen, household. All the other authority. She is the owner of the
the earliest type of 7ylor, Briffault and others are of the members are subordinated to her.
Such controversial family.
But some have opinion that matriarchal L.
expressed
opinions still prevail. On the basis their doubts regarding their family has been
chal families are found of some very existence
Trobsiand Islanders, theamong the Eskimos, Malay studies now it is known
American Iroquois, the Islanders, Odama Indians, that matna
Khasi tribals Labradar
of India and others. Indians
 355
The Family

Characteristics of
Matriarchal Family
traced through the mother.
and Succession. Here the descent is
1. Descent, Inheritance the property of the mother. They succeed their
it is matrilineal in descent. Daughters inherit
Hence children is mostly decided by the status
of the mother
and the sons. The status of the
mother residence. After the marriage the
Matriarchal family is matrilocal in
2. Matrilocal Residence. in his sister's house, pays
in her mother's house. The husband who normally stays
wife stays back visitor'. But he is given only
wife's house. He is treated as a "privileged
occasional visits to the between husband and wife tend
to be very loose and both may
relations
secondary position. Sex sex-relations.
extra-marital
often develop mother exercises authority and power
in the matriarchal
3. Exercise of Power. In theory, the relative of the
her decisions are final. But in practice,
some
is the head of the family and Ex.: Among
family. She in the family and looks after property.
exercises authority Labradar Indi-
mother, mostly her brother, exercises authority in the family and among the
the wife's brother
the Malay people household.
wife's father manages the the kinsmen-(the wife,
her
ans the together
The maternal family brings
4. The Structure ofthe Family. welds them together into powerful
a

her children and brothers, etc.) and

mother and grandmother, associated with exogamy.
of family is normally
group. This type 6. PATRIARCHAL FAMILY
the
family. Here,
is also known as father-centred
or father-dominated
He is the owner
and
The patriarchal family exercises authority.
man is the head of
the family and he
father or the eldest matters his is the
final voice and opinion.
On all family
administrator of the family
property.

Characteristics of
Patriarchal Family the male line.
Patriar-
These recognised through
the male line. Here,
are
Inheritance and Succession.
1. Descent, because the descent is traced through
son enjoys
in character, instances, the eldest
chal families are partilineal of the father. In some as the
children inherit the property death. Children are recognised
male his
only the He normally
succeeds the father
after
rights.
some special
mother is practically ignored. with the fa-
father and the residence. Sons
continue to stay
children of the in have
Patriarchal family
is Patrilocal them. Women
Residence. the wives come and join Children are
2.
even after
their marriages. Only of their menfolk.
house be at the mercy
ther in his own
families for they
have to
position in these
secondary is the dominant person.
up in their father's family. male member of the family members. All
brought father or the
eldest
terms for other
Here the He dictates
3. Authority. subordinated to him. has the authority
members are him only. Nobody
all. All the taken by the
in During the early days,sons
He is all affairs are
to the family property.
decisions pertaining the fan:ily his
the major o w n e r and
the manager of patriarch could
sell
him. He is the members of the family. The
to question over all the head.
had absolute authority
matters also
he w a s the
patriarch
even kill
them. In religious
and wife or But they
societies.
Families industrial
Patriarchal
of the modern
Some Examples found today in The Roman patri-
families are not
and the Aryans of India. an älim-
patriarchal
The typical Hebrews,
Greeks, Romans, the head of the family
the ancient which gave tihe authority
prevailed among power
of the father) jurisdiction
to challenge
Patria
Potestas" (the was no legal same
!n the
arch had "the members. There into s e r v i t u d e .
daughter during
all the other could sell hi» In india also
ited authority
over
Palestine the father all his dependants. father before
In ancient power
over
tu her
of the patriarch. exercised despotic
obediences-
successive old age. In
Hebrew patriarch kinds of w i d o w h o o d or
the to three her wife and
s o n during
manner
w a s subject
Vedic period
woman
marriage
and to her
life. On the other hand,
the the blic
to her
husband after
opportunity
to lead pi
her marriage, not given
an
were
women
apartment"
ancient Athens, "women's

w e r e kept
in secluded
daughters
 356
Social Institutions
At present, both matriarchal and patriarchal families have diminished. In their
ian or
equalitarian families in which father and mother enjoy
place egali
equal status and opportunities, hau
emerged. Most of the families in the industrial societies are equalitarian families.
called 'modern families', and also
They are o
'nuclearfamilies. ten
7.THE NUCLEAR FAMILY
The individual nuclear
family is a universal social phenomenon. It can be
group composed of husband and wife and immature children which constitutes a defjned as"a smoil
unit apart
rest
of the community."-(Duncan Mitchell in his "Dictionary of Sociology'). from tho
In
simple words, a nuclear family is one which consists of the husband, wife and
dren. Soon after their their
marriage, the children leave their parental home and establish their chil.
household. Hence, a nuclear family is an autonomous unit separate
ffee from the control of the elders.
there is physical distance between
and their married children, there is minimum Since
parents
family is mostly independent. The American familyinterdepen-
dence between them. Thus, a nuclear
is a typical
example the moderm independent nuclear family.
of
The nuclear
family is a characteristic of all the moderm industrial societies. As Lowie
"It does not matter whether
marital relations are writes
or permanent
polyandry or sexual licence,.the one fact stands out
or
temporary; whether there is
polygyny
husband, wife and immature children constitute a unit beyond all others that everywhere
the
apart from the remainder of the community"
According to T.B. Bottomore, the universality of the nuclear family can be accounted
important functions that it has been performing. for by the
The nuclear family has been
the economic, the
reproductive, and the educational functions. performing the sexual,
ity of these and a few other functions has According to him, the indispensabil-
contributed
consistently emphasised the economic functions of the
to its
universality. Anthropologists too have
in family in
maintaining the nuclear family is economic co-operation basedprimitivedivisionsocieties, A major factor
sexes. Levi Strauss has said upon of labour between
much about the miserable situation of
the primitive societies. unmarried individuals in most of

The Structure of Nuclear

Family
The nuclear family depends very much on incest taboos.
have marriage from The members of the
among themselves. Hence it is confined to two family cannot
tion can be established the
by formation of new families. This can be generations only. third genera-
A
and females between done by an exchange of males
existing nuclear families. It means daughters can be
nuclear families and girls of the other
nuclear families can be taken in as given marriage to other
in
gives rise to two kinds of nuclear families: (a) spouses to the sons. This
ation. the family of orientation, and (b) the family of
procre
Every nomal adult in every human
society belongs to
family of orientation in which the person was nuclear families. The first is the
two
borm and
brought up, and which
mother, brothers and sisters. The second is
the family of procreation which the includes
his faher,
his marriage and which
includes the husband or wife, the person establishes by
sons and
The structure of the nuclear
family is not the daughters.
between two kinds of everywhere. Bottomore makes a distinction
same
family system; (i) the family systems
independent, and (ii) systems in in whichthe nuclear family is relatively
which the nuclear
larger group, that is to the family is
incorporated in, or subordinated to, a
more often polygamous or the extended
fanmily. The independent nuclear family 13
incorporated in some larger composite
The independent nuclear family structure.
family which is
mainly due to the growth of individualism dominant in modern industrial societies has
welfare functions of the and intense emergeu
modern state have also affectedgeographic and social
mobility. The socia
individual to face misfortunes. it. The state now comes to
the help oT n
Hence he is no
longer dependent on his family in times of
distres>
 9. FUNCTIONS OF MODERN NUCLEAR FAMILY
The modern nuclear family continues to stay because of the essential functions that it perfom.
ms
even today. Those essential functions are explained below.
1. Stable Satisfaction of Sex Need. The modern nuclear family continues to be the executi.
means of providing sexual satisfaction to its members. No other agency has been able to take up this
tive
this
task to the satisfaction of the members. The family does this task through its agent- the marriage
Though pre-marital sex relations are on the increase especially in the West, they are still treatedaage.
as
'deviant trends' or stray instances.
2. Procreation and Upbringing of Children. The modern family still fulfils the functions of
of
procreating and upbringing of children. The family is regarded as the "proper" authority to produce
children and to bring them up. Even today most of the children are born and brought up in the family
only. Family alone is well equipped to produce and bring up children. This tunction has been asso-
ciated with family since centuries. It continues to be the biological group for procreation and for the
physical care of the children.
3. Socialisation of Children. The modern family still remains as the main architect of socialising
ing
the new born child. The child develops a "self' and a personalityof its own mainly in its family.
Most of the social norms, values and ideals are picked up by the child in the family only. Parents are
showing more interest now-a-days giving proper social training to their children.
4. Provision of Home. The modern family provides for its members house to live in. Due to
economic, and other exigencies, family members may go out for some time but they spend much of
their time in the home itself. It is a happy place to live in both for parents and their children. It still
continues to be the noblest centre of human affection, love and sympathy. Other agencies such as
hotels, hostels, lodging houses, etc., may provide shelter to the members, but not the needed love and
affection. Only the home can provide permanent homely atmosphere for its members.
The general view of the modern nuclear family is that it is not a highly ritualised and
institutionalised entity. It is rather what Burgess has called "a unit ofinteracting personalities, set in
a cultural framework, responsible for a limited number of social functions and for a biological
function'". It is held together by internal cohesion rather than external pressure. It is more unstable
than what it was in the past. Still it is more free to fit the variations in human personality.
10. THE JOINT FAMILY
(A STUDY OF JOINT FAMILY WITH REFERENCE TO INDIA)
The joint family is also known as 'undivided family' and sometimes as 'extended family. It
normally consists of members who at least belong to three generations: husband and wife, their
married and unmarried children; and their married as well as unmarried grandchildren. The joint
familysystem the basic social institution in many traditional
constituted societies,
particularly in the
Eastern societies. In India, this system prevailed among the Hindus as well as non-Hindus.
The Joint Family in India
The joint family, the caste system and the village system are often regarded as the pillars on
which the whole Hindu social edifice is built. The joint family is the bedrock, on which Hindu values
and attitudes are built. It is found in almost all the parts of India. Family for a Hindu is a sacred
institution deriving sanction from religion and social traditions with myths and
legends. Hence u
 h eF a m i b
359

zstitutions family having

is
still found in India.
long history
a of
It is deeply rooted in the traditional Hindu culture. It is
its
an

fo d system
geold
own.

of Joint Family
that are D
Anition

The joint family is a mode of combining smaller families into larger family units through
nted that
ension of three or more generations including at least grandparents, parents and children.
(family)
he The joint family is one which consists of members related through blood and spread over
enerations living together under a common roof and work under a common head.
seve

T h e definition given by Smt. Iravati Karve seems to be more satisfactory. According to

erforms thejoint family may be defined as "a group ofpeople who generally live under one roof, who eat
her, thej
ed at one hearth, who hold property in common, and who participate in common jamiy
ecutive f o o dc o o k e d .

e related to each other as some particular type ofkindred"

up this worship andare
riage.
ted as Types
of Joint Family

The joint family may assume two forms:

() PatriarchaljointJamily, and (i) Matriarchaljoint family. Both the forms are found in India.
ns of
joint family is father-centred and the matriarchal joint family is mother-dominated.
duce The patriarchal
Examples: The patriarchal joint families are found among the Nambudaris of Malabar, the Mundas
mily is generally de-
asso- of Chhotanagpur
and the Angami Nagas of Assam. The Nambudari joint family
found among the Nairs of Malabar, the Khasis
r the
sCribed as "Ilom". The matriarchal joint families are
is popularly known as Tarawad'.
and Garos living on the Garo hills of Assam. The Nair joint family
sing Characteristics of the Joint Family
ily. 1. Depth of Generations. The joint family consists of people of three or more generations
are
other kith and kin such as uncles,
including at least grandparents, parents and children. Sometimes,
the joint family itself.
to aunts, cousins and great grandsons also live in
under the same house
of 2. Common Roof. Members of the joint family normally reside together
and employment problems, mem-
ill hold. Due to the scarcity of accommodation or due to educational
retain regular contacts and the feeling
as bers ofthe joint family may reside separately. Still, they try to
ad of belonging to the same family.
3. Common Kitchen. Members eat the food preparedjointly at the common kitchen. Normally,
the eldest female member of the family supervises the work at'the kitchen. In the patriarchal joint
n
fámilies, the food to men at first and take their meals afterwards.
women serve

4. Common Worship. The Hindu joint family derives

its strength from religion. Hence, it is
have its own deity of "Kula
associated with various religious rituals and practices. Every family may
common worship, rites
devata' and its own religious tradition. Members of the family take part in
and ceremonies.
members hold a common property. As Melley writes: the joint fam-
5 . Common Property. The similar to a joint stock company in which there is a joint property"
y "is a co-operative institution
like a trustee. The total earnings of the members
The head of the family manages the family property
are pooled into a family treasury and family expenses are met with out of that.
male member exer-
6. Exercise In the patriarchal joint family
of Authority. usually the eldest
CISes authority. The super-ordination of the eldest member and the subordination of all the other
members to him is a keynote of the joint family. His commands are normally obeyed by others. As
in theory exercises the su-
Opposed to it, in the matriarchal joint family the eldest female member
preme authority.
7. Arranged Marriages. In the joint family, the head considers it as his privilege to arrange the
The
marriages of the members. The individual's right to select his/her life-partner is undermined.
ounger members rarely challenge their decisions and arrangements. But now-a-days, the feelings
 360 Social stitutions
of younger ones are being given due weightage.
8. Procreation. The size ofthe joint family is by nature bigger. It is found to be associated si
higher rate of production. It is so because in the past procreation was regarded as a religious d with
Members rarely practised birth control measures. But today the situation has changed. duty
9. ldentification with obligations towards the Family. The members tend to
selves with their family. Every member has his own duties and obligations towards the
identify
identify them-
then
family T
family in turn, protects the interests and promotes the welfare of all. The senior-most member of he the
family acts as the guide for other menbers. he
10. Selfsuficiency. Theie was a time when the joint family was mostly self-sufficient. it ue
to meet the economic, d
recreational, medical, educational and other needs of the members. The rurat
agricultural joint families were mostly self-reliant. But they can hardly depend on themselves today
No type of family is self-reliant that
way to day.
11. MERITS AND DEMERTS OF JOINT FAMILY
The jointfamily claims certain merits and suffers from certain defects. Some of them may be
mentioned here.
Merits of Joint Family