Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

FAMILY

1.Definition
2.Characteristics Of Family
3.Joint And Nuclear Family In India
4.Typer Of Family
5.Functions Of Family
6.Changing Nature Of Family
7.Expected Questions
Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Family

⚫ Definition

⚫ A Family Can Be Defined As A Small Group Characterised By Face To Face

Relations And The Members, Are Inter-Related By Kinship Or Marriage.

⚫ According To G.P. Murdock Family Is A Social Group Characterised By A

Common Residence, Economic Cooperation And Reproduction.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Characteristics Of Family
Universal:
The Family System Is Found In All Societies. Family Bonds And Type Of Family
Differs From One Society To Another. E.G.: In India,The Family Bonds Are
Very Strong.

Identity:
It Is A Common Practice For Families To Have A “Nomenclature”.
Every Family Is Identified With A Particular Name

Lowest Unit Of Social Organization:

It Can Be Observed That Family Forms A Lowest Unit Of Social Organisation.
Group Of Families Together Constitute A CommunityAnd Two Or More
Communities Together Form A Society.
Written By :- YASWANTH SIR
Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Types Of Family
⚫ Based On Residence:
⚫ Patrilocal: Where The Bride Resides With The Groom’s Family Or House.
⚫ Matrilocal: Here The Groom Resides With The Bride’s Family Eg: Khasis Of
Meghalaya And Nair
Taravad Of Kerala.
⚫ Neolocal: In This The Family Is Individualistic That Resides Separately In Newly
Constructed House. It Is Commonly Practiced In Urban Areas .
⚫ Based On Authority
⚫ Patriarchial: Here, Father Has The Highest Status In The Family. He Is The
Head Of The Family Who Controls The Social Life Of The Family. It Is
Commonly Practiced Throughout India.
⚫ Matriarchial:Here Mother Has The Highest Status In The Family. She Is The
Head Of The Family Who Controls The Other Members Of The Family. This
System Is Seen Very Rarely In India, The Khasi Clan Of Meghalaya, The Nair Clan
Of Kerala.
⚫ Based On The Size And Structure
⚫ Nuclear Family: It Is Smallest Family In Size Which Has Only A Husband,
Wife And Their Children Living Together. The Current Industrial Urban
System Has Reduced The Size Of The Family Due To Economic And Social
Reason. It Is Further Divided Into Two Types.
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⚫ Joint Family: In A Joint Family More Than Two Generations Resides Together
Who Has Common Ancestors Following Common Duties And Have Common
Property. They Also Has Common Kitchen And Probably Follows Same
Traditional Occupation.
⚫ On The Basis Of Descent (Title Inheritance):
⚫ Patrilinel: Here The New Generations Inherits The Name Or Title, Rights,
Property From Their Male Ancestors.
⚫ Matrilinel: Here The New Generations Inherits The Name Or Title, Property And
Rights From Their
Female Ancestors.Eg Khasis Of Meghalaya,Nair Taravad Of Kerala.
Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Functions Of Family
Essential Functions:
⚫ Satisfaction Of Sex Need: Havelock States “With Failure Of Sexual
Harmony, The Marriage Structure Rests On Shifting Sand”. The Family
Fulfils Sex Instinct In Better Way And Legal.
⚫ Re-Production And Rearing Of Children:The Process Of Reproduction Is
Institutionalized And Legalised In The Family.
⚫ Provision Of Home:The Family Satisfies The Need For Love And Affection Of
Human
Being Through Home And Eliminates Emotional Behaviour Problem Of Human
Beings.
⚫ Socialization:It Also Imparts The Knowledge Of Social Customs Mores Etc. To
The
Future Generation.
⚫ Non-Essential Functions:
⚫ Economic Unit: The Movable And Immovable Property Of Family Are Protected
And
Maintained By Family Members.
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⚫ Religious:In The Family Children Learn Religious, Virtues And Practices Like Idol
Worship, Religious Discourses And Sermons.
⚫ Educational: It Is The First Window Of The Child To The World Outside.
⚫ Health:The Consolation And Hearty Care .
⚫ Recreation: Chance Of Merry Making With Siblings And Relatives In The Family.
⚫ Civic:The Child Learns The First Lessons Of Citizenship In The Family.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Joint Family
⚫ Basically Two Types Of Families Are Found In India. Viz: Joint Family And
Nuclear
Family.
⚫ Joint Family:Joint Family Is A Group Which Consists Of A Couple, Their
Children And Other Relations From Father’s Side Or Mother’s Side (In Case Of
Matriarchal Families).
⚫ Features And Merits Of Joint Family:
⚫ Joint Property: Protection From Division Of Land
⚫ Joint Kitchen
⚫ Division Of Labour
⚫ Social And Emotional Security(To Children,Old,Widow,Sick Etc )
⚫ Continuity Of Culture
⚫ Kinship(4 Generations-Socialisation)
⚫ Common Rituals(Common God)
⚫ Father Headed Family
⚫ Why Joint Family Is Disintegrating In India ?
⚫ Modernisation(Individuality)
Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

⚫ Increasing Job Opportunities(For Both Men And Women)

⚫ Spread Of Education Among Women(Emancipation Of Women)
⚫ Problem Of Accommodation(Large Family Size)
⚫ Poverty
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Nuclear Family
Def: Couple And Their Dependent Children.
The Demerits Of Joint Families Can Be Overcome In Nuclear Families.
1. Merits Of Nuclear Family
i. Better Development Of Personality(Free Interaction)
ii. Better Condition Of Women(No In-Laws)
iii. Less Number Of Children(Mostly 2)
iv. Peace And Harmony(Less Burden And Less Misunderstandings)
v. Individual Responsibilities(Binding On Parents)
⚫ Demerits
i. Lack Of Emotional Security(Old,Children And Widow).
ii. Egoistic Nature Of Children And Problem Of Adjustment.
iii. Lack Of Social Control.
iv. Lack Of Parental Attention Which May Lead To Social Problems Like
Alcoholism. Drug Abuse, Juvenile Delinquency Etc.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Changing Nature Of Family(Trends)

⚫ Choice In Mate Selection: Less Subject To The Parental Control Concerning
Whom And When They Shall Marry.(Independence In Mate Selection)
⚫ Equality: Woman Is Not The Devotee Of Man But An Equal Partner In Life With
Equal Rights.(Man Requests Wife Not Orders, Divorce,Sue Husband For Her
Rights )
⚫ Laxity In Sex Relationships: Cases Of Illegitimate Sex Relationship Of The
Husband And Wife Too Can Be Seen In Modern Family.(SC 497-Adultery-
Joseph Shine V. Union Of India, 2018.)
⚫ Economic Independence:
⚫ Smaller Family:Nuclear Family
⚫ Decline Of Religious Control: No Early Prayer Etc,
⚫ Separation Of Non-Essential Functions: Hospital Offers Room For The Birth Of
Child, In The Nursing Home He Is Brought Up, In The Kindergarten He Is
Educated And In The Playground He Recreates.
⚫ Filo-Centric Family: Children Tend To Dominate The Scene And Their
Wishes Determine The Policy Of Die Family.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

⚫ Live In Relationship Between A Couple Without The Ceremony Of Marriage.

⚫ Unwed Mothers .
⚫ Increasing LGBT Marriages
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Expected Questions
1. Relevance Of Joint Family Is More In Contemporary
India Than Traditional India .Critically Analyse.
2. Write Characteristics Of Family System And Highlight
Changing Nature Family In India.
3. Contemporary Indian Society Is Dominated By Nuclear Family.In This
Context Highlight Merits AndDemerits Of Nuclear Family.
4. There Is No Single Basis To Define
Family.Substantiate.
5. Compare And Contrast Traditional And ModernFamily System
In India.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Marriage In India
⚫ Hindu Marriage
⚫ Marriage In Hindu Culture Is A Spiritual Union Between A
Man And A Woman For Spiritual Realisation.
⚫ Ived By Sociologists As A System Of Roles Of A Man And AWoman
Whose Union Has Been Given Social Sanction As Husband And Wife.
⚫ Objectives
⚫ Indologists :Hindu Marriage As A Sanskara, Having Three Ob-
Jects Of
⚫ Dharma (Fulfillment Of Religious Duties),
⚫ Rati (Sex Gratification), And
⚫ Praja (Procreation).

Marriage Performed For Dharma Was Called Dharmik Marriage, While One
Performed For Sexual Pleasure WasRegarded As Adharmik Marriage.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Why Hindu Marriage Is Sacred?

⚫ (I) Dharma Was The Highest Aim Of Marriage;
⚫ (Ii) Performance Of Marriage Ceremony Included Certain Rites(Like Havan,
Kanyadan, Panigrahana, Saptapadi, Etc.) Which Were Considered Sacred;
⚫ (Iv) Union (Between Man And Woman) Was Considered IndissolubleAnd
Irrevocable;
⚫ (V) Emphasis Was On Chastity Of The Woman And Faithfulness OfThe Man.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Types Of Hindu Marriages

⚫ Adharmik Marriages :
⚫ Ghandarva - Entering Into Sex Before Getting The Social Sanction Of
Society,
⚫ Asura -Eloping With A Woman,
⚫ Rakshasya -Forcibly Abducting A Woman From Her Home And
⚫ Paisacha -Man Molesting A Girl When She Is Asleep Or Intoxicated Or In A
State Of Unbalanced Mind.
⚫ The Main Reason For Recognising The Four Adharmik Marriages As
Marriages Was To Confer The Respectful Status To A Wife/Women.
⚫ Dharmik Marriages:
⚫ Daiva -Woman Is Married To A Priest, A Man Of Intellect And Money, Be-
Longing To An Aristocratic Class),
⚫ Prajapatiya -Entering Wedlock For Biological Function Of Sex Satisfaction
And Having Children
⚫ Arsha -Woman Marrying A Man Of Intellect And Character (Sage) Who Is Reluctant To Enter
Marriage, So That She May Get Intelligent Progeny AndGood Home Environment
Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

The Regulation Of Mate Selection

⚫ In Hindu Society It Is Subsumed Under The Concepts Of
⚫ Endogamy, Social Rule That Requires A Person To Select The Spouse
From Within The Caste And Sub-Caste;
⚫ Exogamy, Exogamy Forbids Selection From The Same Gotra And
Sapindas (I.E., Cousins);
⚫ Hypergamy Is A Boy From The Upper Caste Can Marry A Girl From The
Lower Caste
⚫ Hypogamy(Not Permitted) Is The Act Of Marrying Someone Of A
Lower Social And Economic Class Than Your Own.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Changes In Hindu Marriage System : And Legislations

I. Object Of Marriage: From Dharma To Companionship
II. Process Of Mate Selection: Party, Criteria, And Field Of Selection ,Earlier Mates For Children Were
Selected By Parents, Now Children Believe In Joint Selection By ParentsAnd Children.
III. Form Of Marriage: From Polygyny To Monogamy
IV. Age Of Marriage: From Pre-Puberty Marriages To Post-Puberty Marriages.
I. The Prohibition Of Child Marriage Act, 1929(A.1978) Age At Marriage(18(G),21(B) -
----2021 Proposed To 21 (G&B) (Expected Question).
II. Special Marriage Act, 1954 -Dealing With Age At Marriage, Freedom To Children ToMarry
Without Parental Consent, Bigamy, And Dissolving Marriage,
V. Economic Aspect Of Marriage :Dowry, Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, But Forfeits
Them The Right Of Maintenance From The Property Of The First Husband.
VI. Stability Of Marriage : Divorce ,The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (A. 1986) Gives
Share To Wife And Daughters In Man’s Properly Equal To That Of Sons And Brothers. Provides For
Divorce By Mutual Consent Where The Parties Have Been SeparatedFor A Period Of One
Year(Section 13B).
VII. Widow Remarriage: Widow Remarriage Act, 1856.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Marriage Among Muslims:

⚫ Muslim Society Is Stratified Not Only Among Shias And Sunnis But AlsoAmong Ashraf (Saiyed,
Sheikh, Pathan, Etc.), Azlab (Momins, Mansooris,Ibrahims, Etc.) And Arzal (Halalkhor, Etc.). The
Ashrafs Are The Noble- Born, The Azlabs Are Low-Born, And The Arzals Are The Lowest Of All.
⚫ All These Groups Are Endogamous And Inter-Marriages Among Them Are
Condemned And Discouraged.
⚫ Muslim Marriage, Called Nikah, Unlike The Sacramental Marriage Of The
Hindus, Is Considered To Be A Civil Contract(S.C. Sarkar ).
⚫ Its Important Objectives Are:
1. Control Over Sex,
2. Procreation Of Children
3. Upbringing Of Children
4. Perpetuation Of Family And
5. Ordering Of Domestic Life.
⚫ But It Will Be Wrong To Say That Muslim Marriage Has No Religious Duty. It
Is Devotion And An Act Of Ibaddat.
⚫ But It Is Surely Not A Sacrament Like Hindus.
 Written By :- YASWANTH SIR

Features Of Muslim Marriage

⚫ Proposal And Its Acceptance: The Proposal Is Made By The Bridegroom To The Bride Just
Before The Wedding Ceremony In The Presence Of Two Witnesses And A Maulvi (Priest).
⚫ For Recognising Marriage As Sahi (Regular), It Is Necessary That Both The Proposal AndIts
Acceptance Must Be At The Same Meeting. Not Doing So Makes Marriage ‘Fasid’ (Irregular) But Not
Batil (Invalid). Further, Female Testimony Has Been Rejected In Muslim Marriage.
⚫ Capacity To Contract Marriage: Refers To Not Recognising Child Marriage Or
Marriage Of A Person Of An Unsound Mind.
⚫ Doctrine Of Equality: Refers To Marriage With A Person Of Low Status. Such Marriages Are
Looked Down Upon. Similarly, Runaway Marriages (Called Kifa) AreAlso Not Recognised.
⚫ Preference System: Refers To Giving Preference First To Parallel (Chachera And Mauserd) Cousin
And Then To Cross-Cousin (Only Mamera But Not Phuphera). ButThese Days, Cousin Marriages
Are Discouraged.
⚫ Mahar.