FAMILY
A social group which consists of people united by ties of blood , marriage , adoption. It extends for two or more generations.
GP MURDOCK
- Functions of family,
- Common residence
- Economic co-operation
- Sexual gratification Reproduction
- On the basis of Residence :
- Patrilocal :
- Women going to husbands house
- Matrilocal
- Men towards women
- Gharjamai
- Garo, khasi tribes
- Neolocal
- Both husband and wife moving
- Globalised
- ANCESTARY:
- Patrilineal
- Matrilineal
JOINT FAMILY
- Common Residence – Members of several generations live together under one roof.
- Common Property – Property is owned jointly; no individual ownership.
- Economic Cooperation – Income is pooled, and expenditure is met from a common fund.
- Collective Responsibility – All members share duties and responsibilities.
- Authority of Head (Karta) – Eldest male (traditionally) manages family affairs and decisions.
- Kinship Bonds – Strong ties of blood and marriage form the basis.
- Ritual Unity – Common worship, festivals, and religious practices followed collectively.
- Support System – Provides social, economic, and emotional security to members.
- Division of Labour – Roles divided (men earning, women managing household, elders guiding, children learning)
- Social Control – Traditions, customs, and collective opinion regulate individual behaviour.
- Advantages
- Provides economic security and reduces risks of poverty.
- Primary socialization of children with values & traditions.
- Acts as an emotional support system in crises.
- Offers division of labour – shared household & work duties.
- Strengthens social security for aged, widows, or unemployed.
- Agency of social control
- Disadvantages
- Suppression of individuality due to dominance of elders.
- Frequent conflicts over property and authority.
- Financial burden on earning members.
- Resistance to modern values and women’s autonomy.
- Lack of privacy & personal freedom
- Lack of privacy High fertility rate
Others ,
- Primary Socialization – Children learn values, language, traditions, and norms first within the joint family.
- Agency of Social Control – Customs, elders’ authority, and collective opinion regulate individual behaviour.
- Agency of Social Insurance – Provides security during illness, unemployment, disability, or old age.
- Economic Cooperation – Incomes pooled, resources shared, and expenditure met collectively.
- Source of Identity – Family name, caste, and traditions give members a sense of belonging and social recognition.
- Implications of Disintegration of Joint Family
- The Indian joint family has historically been a cornerstone of social, cultural, and economic life. However, urbanisation, industrialisation, and individual aspirations have led to its gradual disintegration into nuclear units.
- Social Implications: Weakening of traditional values and authority of elders; children miss intergenerational learning. For example, urban nuclear families often rely on schools/crèches instead of grandparents for child-rearing.
- Economic Implications: Loss of pooling of resources and collective security; financial burden increases on single earning members.
- Psychological Implications: Rise in loneliness, stress, and lack of emotional support, particularly for the elderly. Example: Growing old-age homes in cities.
- Cultural Implications: Decline in ritual unity and weakening of kinship ties, though festivals are still celebrated collectively in villages.
- Conclusion: The disintegration of joint families reflects socio-economic change. While nuclear families offer independence and privacy, India needs supportive community mechanisms to substitute the traditional safety net.
Why Disintegration of Joint Family Happened
- Push Factors (internal weaknesses)
- Authoritarian control of elders → Suppressed individuality.
- Frequent property disputes → Conflict among members.
- Unequal burden-sharing → Earning members overburdened.
- Lack of privacy & autonomy → Especially for women/youth.
- Land ceilings and labour laws
- Pull Factors (external changes)
- Urbanisation & migration → Families move for jobs/education.
- Industrialisation & modern economy → Shift from land-based to wage-based life.
- Western education & values → Emphasis on individualism and nuclear family ideals.
- Modern housing patterns → Small urban flats unsuitable for large families.
- Reintegration of Indian Joint Family (New Forms)
- Modified Joint Families – Families may live separately but maintain economic and emotional ties (e.g., supporting parents, joint rituals).
- Technological Reintegration – Mobile phones, WhatsApp groups, video calls sustain intergenerational bonds.
- Cultural Reassertion – Festivals, marriages, and rituals bring extended kin together.
- Economic Necessity – Rising costs of childcare, elderly care, and inflation encourage multi-generational households in urban India.
- Policy Support – Schemes like PM Awas Yojana (housing) and family pensions indirectly support co-living.
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SOCIETY