NAME :- BHAVYA SINHA

ENROLLMENT NO :- A8111120108
SEMESTER 1 , SECTION – B
BA.LL.B ( HONS )
BATCH :- 2020-25

THE SOCIOLOGY PSDA REPORT

TOPIC :- THE CHANGING CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE OF

JOINT FAMILY STRUCTURE IN INDIA

SUBMITTED TO :
DR. RITU AGRAWAL MA’AM

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS :-

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2. INTORDUCTION

3. TYPES OF FAMILY

4. NUCLEAR FAMILY V/S JOINT FAMILY

5. EFFECT OF WESTERN CULTURE ON INDIAN FAMILY

STRUCTURE

6. VIEWS OF YOUTH ON INDIAN FAMILY STRUCTURE

7. PREFERENCE OF YOUTH

8. CONCLUSION

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 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Family is one amongst the most important social institutions which affect individuals and society
in a diversity of ways. Family performs vital manifest and latent functions like reproductive,
economic, sexual, socialization etc. Traditionally there existed a joint family system in society
where more than one generation lived together sharing the same household. But with the advent
of modernization forces , societies witness a change in family structure. The structure of family
changes in a way that it becomes more narrow, encompassing not even one generation but only a
fragment of joint family, termed as nuclear family system. Indian society has also witnessed such
changes in family structure. There exist multiplicity of reasons for this change, the most
prominent amongst which is affect of western culture. The new generation is more concerned
with the issues of privacy, freedom, mobility etc. leading to preference of nuclear families. The
predominance of individualistic values in society leads to break up of joint family system. But
there are several associated dysfunctions of nuclear families like experiencing alienation and
degeneration of traditional values in society. There are several latent & manifest functions as
well as dysfunctions of changing family structure which are to be analysed.

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 INTRODUCTION

FAMILY -

In India , the land of culture and unity are well manifested in the structure of society , indeed in
the smaller unit of a society i.e. family.

A family is a set of human beings related to each other in a non-professional manner , giving rise
to a concrete cohesion within the family. Love , care and affection are the most prominent human
values which are responsible for maintaining these bonds of relationships within a family.

Typically , a nuclear family may be conceived as a unit consisting of a couple , children and
grandparents and pets. In India however , there exists a special kind of family structure that
really is quite vivid in the way it manages to handle and keep intact the human relations. This
special kind of family structure is Joint Family System. A joint family is a collection of more
than one , nuclear families that are interconnected by blood relations or marital relations. All the
members , regardless of which particular nuclear family ( within that joint family ) they belong
to , live together and share happiness , grief and virtually every kind of problem and joy together.
The joint family in itself stimulates a typical view of our multi-cultural , multi-lingual yet tightly
intertwined Indian society. Indian president replies a question related to spiritual strengths of
India as :-

“ One of our strengths is our joint family system. In this system a problem is no problem. In a
nuclear family a problem can destroy a family. We have a number of religions. I find that
religions are like orchards but they need to be linked. Every religion preaches compassion and
love. If we can transform religion into spiritual forces then we have arrived. By 2020 we should
be prosperous and happy nation without leaving our civilization heritage….”

 DEFINITION OF FAMILY

“The family is a unity of interacting persons related by ties of marriage, birth or adoption, whose
central purpose is to create and maintain a common culture which promotes the physical, mental,
emotional and social development of each of its members.” - Duval, 1971

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“ In today’s society, the family as composed of two or more people who are emotionally
involved with each other and live in close geographical proximity.” - Friedman

 MEANING OF FAMILY –

The family provides a set of functions important to the needs of the individual members and to
society as a whole. The family provides the individual with the necessary environment for
development and interactions; it also provides new and socialized members for society. The
family is the basic unit of society. Families exist in all sizes and configurations and are essential
to the health and survival of the individual members and to society as a whole.

 FUNCTIONS OF FAMILY –

Four Major Functions of a Family: (Friedman, 1981)

(i) Physical Function – carried out by providing a safe, comfortable environment

necessary to growth, development and rest/recuperation.
(ii) Economic Function – provide financial aid for members, as well as, meeting
monetary needs of society.
(iii) Reproductive Function – it is met by the birth of children.
(iv) Socialization Function – this is of major importance and includes teaching;
transmitting beliefs, values, attitudes and coping mechanisms; providing feedback
and guiding problem – solving.

 TYPES OF FAMILY –

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 TYPES OF FAMILY

NUCLEAR OR
EXTENDED OR
CONSANGUNIAL
JOINT FAMILY
FAMILY

 Extended Family

A Hindu Joint Family or Joint Family is an extended family arrangement prevalent among
Hindus of the Indian subcontinent, consisting of many generations living under the same roof.
The joint family status being the result of birth, possession of joint cord that knits the members
of the family together is not property but the relationship.

The family is headed by a patriarch, usually the oldest male called "Karta", who makes
decisions on economic and social matters on behalf of the entire family. The patriarch's wife
generally exerts control over the kitchen, child rearing and minor religious practices. Family ties
are given more importance than marital ties. The arrangement provides a kind of social security
in a familial atmosphere.

Six key aspects of a joint family are:

1. Head of the family (Karta) takes all decision regarding financial and economical aspects
of family.
2. All members live under one roof.
3. Three generations living together (though often two or more brothers live together, or
father and son live together or all the descendants of male live together).
4. Income and expenditure in a common pool- property held together.
5. All decisions are made by the male head of the family- patrilineal, patriarchal.
6. No division of property until the death of the Karta (head of family or older male person).

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  Nuclear Family

A nuclear family is defined as a family group consisting of a father and mother and their
children, all exclusively sharing living quarters.

This family is in contrast to the smaller single-parent family, and to the larger extended family.
The concept of the nuclear family was first noticed in Western Europe in the 17th century. With
the emergence of proto-industrialization and early capitalism, the nuclear family became a
financially viable social unit.

The concept that a narrowly defined nuclear family is central to stability in modern society has
been promoted by modern social conservatives in the United States, and has been challenged as
historically and sociologically inadequate to describe the complexity of actual family relations
and this concept has been widely accepted in India also.

 Aims and Objectives

(i) To know the main reason in the increase of nuclear families or decrease in joint
families.
(ii) To investigate the relationship of family structure and social values as they relate to
family structure in contemporary Indian society.
(iii) The broad objective of the study is to know why “Youth prefer nuclear family most
as compare to joint family”.
(iv) To know the impact of western culture on the Indian youth today and change in
preference of youth for family.

LITERATURE REVIEW

 NUCLEAR FAMILY V/S JOINT FAMILY –

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According to ChitraNair (2009)72% city women prefer nuclear families and in a debate of
Nuclear Family vs. Joint Family is explained that a Survey is carried by a famous matrimonial
portal to find out the Preference of youth for Nuclear family or Join family and it appears that
most of working women (72%) want to be live in a nuclear family. The woman, who holds a
well-paying job, wanted to live in a separate house "to avoid complications later". The young
techie's opinion perhaps reflects a growing trend among city women. The survey carried out by a
popular matrimonial portal claims to reveal changing attitudes among city youth towards various
aspects of marriage. And in some matters, it appears, the fairer sex may be more open to change.
According to the survey, for instance, almost 72% of Pune women prefer to live in a nuclear
family, as opposed to just 50% men who favor the idea. The survey also highlights that questions
like caste and horoscope matches are also losing importance among the city's youth. The survey
also asked respondents how important it was for them to know their partner before marriage. A
whopping 90% of female respondents from the city said it was extremely important, as opposed
to some 79% men who said the same.

According to Anand Singh (2008) attitudes towards nuclear, joint and extended family living
arrangements among middle-class people of Indian origin in Durban, South Africa. It takes the
view that joint and extended family arrangements within this segment are still as popular as the
growing western notion of nuclear families. The purposes of this article, is defined as an
expression of preference for a particular type of living arrangement that could be one of three
types, viz. nuclear, joint or extended family. Nuclear families are seen in this article as

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constituting two-generation households that are made up of parents and their biological children.
Joint and extended family structures are viewed as being two distinct types of structures, but
made up of individuals who are linked together by marriage and by their biological offspring.
While joint and extended family structures among Indians are generally patrilineal and
multifocal, an extended family differs from a joint family in that it is usually a three generation
structure made up of genealogically related kin comprising of grandparents, parents and
grandchildren, and sometimes a fourth generation, when it is does exist. A joint family, on the
other hand, is usually made up of two married brothers and their families living in one property,
without a third generation.

 Effect of Western Culture on Indian Family Structure

According to Deepa Mehta (2009), western impact on our Indian culture is felt more and more
these days. The impact of western companies and their corporate culture has laid a heavy impact
on the youth today. But needless to say our culture is one of the oldest and hence it is stable and
nothing can really endanger it. Still a new form of living called nuclear families is on the
increase. What is a nuclear family and how has it impacted our traditional family set up? Young
couples after marriage decides to live independently away from the joint family setup. The
reason for this choice is to be free and have increased privacy. It is very disheartening to see
aged parents living alone waiting for their kids and grand children every weekend or during the
holidays. Even that is not guaranteed because of lack of holidays in the respective offices of their
son and daughter in law. What can be more disturbing when you have to celebrate birth days and
festivals without your kids? The kids are looked after by paid maids and the so is the cooking
and other domestic choirs. The head of the family is busy making money and the woman of the
house also has a career or is busy socializing. The condition of the kids are the most pathetic as
they while away their time before televisions and computers. But then do they get the privacy
and the freedom assured in a nuclear setup. Well, where is the time for privacy when you are
toiling day and night with little time at home to spend with the own kids. This defiantly brings
more selfishness and one become less aware and sensitive of others. Whereas in joint families
the man and the woman can continue their careers without worry of kids as the elders of the
house take care of them. The kids grow in a loving and caring atmosphere around grandparents,
nieces and nephews. The resources are shared and so it is benefits. Many parents feel the kids are

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spoiled by grandparents. The elders might pamper the kids but then they will not in any way
stand in between the kids overall growth or studies. Joint family can also gives more support to
carrier oriented parents by extending their love to kids. Parent need not to worry lot about the
well being of their kids. In case of any incident or tragedy family members are the one who can
stand beside you to give you the much required strength.

 Views of Youth on Indian Family Structure

Since several decades there has been a sharp rise in the population of young couples preferring
and living in a nuclear family. Though Joint families have many advantages for any couple in
terms of financial and social level, it is now felt essential to have privacy in various matters
which only a nuclear family can provide. Furthermore many other advantages such as child
development, financial independence and freedom to make decisions are most beneficial to a
young couple. In India, there has been a rapid change in the family structure of the society.
According to recent survey it has been found out that 1 in 5 Indian families (21%)are third-
generation joint families. Therefore, 4 in 5 (at most 75%) families are nuclear. As the youth has
become more confident in taking decisions about their career choices, food, and lifestyle and also
about living in a family. According to the results of the investigation, the main reason for the
increase in nuclear family and joint family has been a need for a financially independent, socially
organized and self-reliant family.

Setting-up of the hypothesis

• The youth preference for nuclear family is increasing day by day.

• The youth preference for joint family is not increasing, it is decreasing day by day.

 Does The Youth Prefer A Nuclear Family?

As the youth has become more confident in taking decisions about their career choices, food, and
lifestyle and also about living in a family. Moreover the drawbacks of the joint family also serve
as a reason for the youth to switch over or choose living in a nuclear family. The drawback of
joint family is that people don't get freedom and privacy as they can get in nuclear family. People
can’t keep secrets hidden and as a result there is no privacy. There is no independent decision
making in a joint family. People lose individuality. This results in switching over to the nuclear

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family and there are positive aspects of a nuclear family due to which the quality of marital life
of the youth will not get affected.

1) Privacy – The couple can get their privacy in their own house in nuclear families whereas
you cannot get your privacy in a joint family. People can live their own way and can do whatever
they want to. There are no such boundaries set by the elders to follow.

2) Financial stability – Financial stability is one of the strongest points in the nuclear family.
One can be financially strong because of limited expenses. There is less number of people in the
nuclear family and hence less expenses. People cannot have a strong financial stability if they are
the only person who is earning in a joint family.

3) Freedom – The elders restricts youngsters not to do certain tasks because they think this is
not good for them. But today’s generation is very smart. They know what is good and bad for
them and have enough analytical power so they don’t like to restrict themselves. Instead, they
want their freedom so that they can do and achieve whatever they want in their life.

4) Ease in moving – When people have a nuclear family, they face fewer problems while
shifting from a house. They can manage their things according to them without disturbing the
lives of other people. This is one of the major advantages of the nuclear family.

5) Avoidance of stress and discomfort – Some people are emotional. They can’t tolerate any
kind of fun that is on them and in the joint family, one need to have much high patience. But,
nuclear families has the advantage that if people live in the company of those with whom they
are very comfortable then there is no need to take any stress and their discomfort will also get
vanished in a moment.

 Joint family system vs. Nuclear family system

Today we have a generation of people who after having lived in a joint family system have taken
the initiative to break out and start a nuclear family. This generation today has come of age and
very well appreciates the strengths and weaknesses of both the system. In a sense I represent
such a generation and therefore wish to present my personal thoughts on why and how we could
revive and make a 'the joint family system' work. The generation that broke out of the old joint

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family system did so when individualistic thinking began to gain predominance in the society. It
was exciting to explore experiment and establish a living set up on one's own.

The nuclear family gave immense freedom from the traditions and ways of life that the old
system was ridden with. Hence whenever and wherever the parents and the grown up adult
children could not get along well and when the adult children could afford to build a house to
call their own, nuclear families began to be formed. As it happens with most changes in the
society, initially the people from the old system did not take this change very well. They were
saddened to see the disintegration of family values and system and emergence of individualistic
nuclear families. However, gradually when nuclear families became the order of the day, the old
generation slowly began to accept the realities and became comfortable with it.

The other factor that gave rise to nuclear families was industrialization. Industrial revolution
brought with it increase in job opportunities in and around major industrialized and commercial
cities and towns. This forced men and women to move out of their family home and away from
the parents. In this case, often the parents who remained emotionally attached to the place where
they spent most of their life preferred to continue staying in their family home and accepted with
some sadness their children starting out new life away from them.

Today, as a person from the generation that broke out of the system in the hope of immense
freedom, I look behind and ask myself 'what has my generation really and truly gained from the
quest for freedom and what has it lost'. The one and only major gain that I see from the 'nuclear
family' system is the opportunity it provides us to create an identity of our own - something we
as human beings crave for and are born for.

 On the loss side there are several

Being physically far removed from the family members and as a result inadvertently getting
disconnected from their hearts and minds, Stresses in bringing up our children only relying on
child care centers. In Indian cities and towns, it can be even more difficult where there are not
enough facilities available for care of children. Coping with all problems - big and small on our
own as we are unable to afford the privilege of sharing and downloading worries on someone
(other than spouse) whom we feel close and connected to. This has led to increase in several
problems in the society like depression, suicides and heart disorders due to highly stressed lives.

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Missing out on celebrations and festivities that binds us to our culture and gives us a sense of
being at home. This is more relevant to those living out of the country. Having difficulty in
passing on the cultural values to our children. Cultural values are learnt and taught by seeing
them in action. Facing great difficulty in even passing on our own language to the next
generation. (This is more applicable for those who have moved out of the country.)

Through this article I wish to propose that based on our experiences of two fundamentally
different models of family, we create a new family model based on the 'joint family system'. In
this new model the basic and underlying concept of the joint family would remain the same
however it will incorporate changes in the ways members in the family interact with one another.
The basic concept of the joint family system is that more than one family comes together under
one roof and led a life of mutual co-operation and inter-dependence. In the revived model, the
families coming together may or may not belong to the same parent family. A joint family
system could be created by a family of friends.

 CONCLUSION

Due to the western impact over contemporary Indian social system, tremendous changes affected
every walk of life. These changes have influenced the society not only overtly but also have
provided alternatives to the existing values and ideas towards the different aspect of society and
human behavior. But on the other hand, it is also equally true that Indian traditions are so deeply
rooted that these alternatives have been succeeded in total transformation of the society. Culture
is developed according to requirement of peoples of that region. They have always meant for
good and made for good but affects adversely, only when taken in a wrong way. Indian youth if
understands the importance of western culture, it is for sure that it is going to affect his/her
behavior, outlook and character in a smarter and better way. We should adapt whatever can be
adjusted with your culture and should modify the things, which can improve your culture. The
youth have enhanced our standard of living. I think if a country is growing by adapting western
culture, you won’t say it has adversely affected. Many concepts like keeping the environment
neat and clean, strong offence for eve teasing and bullying, equality between man and woman &
boys and girls, appreciating the work of others, which have continuously been in their culture, if

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adopted by an Indian will going to widen our strengths. All cultures are good until your culture is
good and flexible, and you do it and adapt it in a positive way. So I think Indian youth has some
positive as well as some negative effect of western culture on u and your family according to
their thinking and beliefs.

 REFERENCE –
 H Bhasin (2016), Change In Family Structure In The Modern Times, International
Journal of Indian Psychology, Volume 3, Issue 4, No. 66, ISSN 2348-5396 (e),
ISSN: 2349-3429 (p), DIP:18.01.169/20160304, ISBN: 978-1-365-39396-9

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