FAMILY

The notion of family is an important feature in Indian society.It is considered as an institution by itself. It is believed that family is a collective cultural symbol of the country since ancient times.

 

 As per the opinion of the sociologist there are no families when hunters and gatherers kept moving on.When they slightly stable and attached to the land and procurement of production then the concept of the family started . When a man worked hard and really wanted to give his earnings to his progeny then man control on women, do decision on every matter then family started.They tried to control all the earnings as well as the land also within his near ones then started the requirement of extended family or joint family.. Gradually joint families build strong circles. Attachment to land that passes from generation to generation then there grows the common decision place. With the coming of industrialization family act as a unit of production and consumption. Gradually, people moved to factories to work and the urbanization starts and the whole scenario change.Then there came economic changes and political changes and social changes.An individual is becoming more important than the family. Subsequently, there have been changing the legal system. Women need legal rights. They wish to acquire property from her father and husband.. All this point clearly shows that the joint family did not support the other institution of society.

Finally, nuclear families in urban areas increases. It is believed that with the advent of the 21st century the rapid increase of urbanization , the socio-economic changes effects the features of social system of family.For better education and career orientation , extended family and joint family gradually dis-integrated. Smaller family units comprising of husband, wife and their children grow simultaneously. According to the 2001 census, 9.98 crores out of 19.31 crore households are nuclear. In the 2011 census12. 97 crores out of 24.88 house holds are nuclear families in urban areas.
 With the growth of nuclear family in urban areas so many difficulties are increased for couples.They exclude from the extended family. They do not learn conflict resolution skills. So, with less tolerance situation like divorce cases are increasing among couples.. A small support system is there. Compounding stereo types are the day to day affair for them. Their view is always self centered. Individual responsibilities increase. The value system is losing at nuclear families.The women's participation in the work place is larger in the nuclear family. But , the most advantages of nuclear families are they face fewer quarrels compared to joint families. A nuclear family has based parental love and sibling connection.

However on the other side, a joint family builds strong circles. The situations at joint families are economically beneficial.Elders take care of children. In the absence of parents, children are not feeling lonely.That creates an emotional bond between two generations. The joint family acts as a social insurance.The togetherness of many members of a family creates an imbibing family value. The cradle of social virtues is there that shared support system, division of labor, financial security, socialism in wealth . With the coming of privatization of working place in the employment sector, both parents leave their children with their care taker or creche. They indirectly suffer. So , gradually the couples need  support from their family. The research report which clearly states the status of the Indian Family.The Indian Joint Family is storied phenomenon. It is mostly still going strong despite the common trend of urbanization and nuclear families.

 

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES.

Sapna Acharya

Travel Writer

Dt-15. 5.2020