Page 152 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship

Notes (c) Consanguine family
(d) Affinal family
(e) Rural family
(f) Urban family

(I) On the Basis of Numbers

(a) Nuclear Family: This type of family is the main characteristics of modern industrial Socie-
ties. The number is increasing due to industrialisation and urbanisation. Where agriculture
sector shows joint family system, industrialisation shows nuclear family system. Today’s
changing scenario makes it difficult to keep family integrated. Modern civilisation and cul-
turalism, materialism and centered views give support to nuclear families. Today a man
concerns only wife and children instead all the relatives. This is the reason, many people
want to start nuclear family, those lining in joint family system.
Central or Nuclear is the smallest family system in which live, a men, wife and their de-
pendent children, it does not count other family members. Children live until they are un-
married. After marriage they form their own nuclear family. This family system can be
found in many castes and tribes. In these families, members ties with each other emotion-
ally. The structure is also very small and it effects creatively on children. Today, family
system is changing from joint to nuclear. Many studies in India is reflects this trands.
(b) Joint Family: In joint family structure, three or more than three generations live in one
house. They have combined family wealth. They eat from one kitchen, take part in group
worship and related to each other in one or another relations, family members perform
their duties and obligations. Dubey says, “Joint family is, where principle family live with
close relations, eat from one place and work for one economic unit,” In one joint family
there live grandparents, parents, uncle-aunt, cousins their wives and children, widow sis-
ters and daughters. In Hindus, specially those living in rural areas has a trend of joint fam-
ily. J.D. Men wrote in his book, “Hindu law and custom” about joint family of Malabar
which is called “Tharward”, is an example for joint family system.

Comparision Between Nuclear and Joint Family System

1. Size of family is short in nuclear family because of only husband, wife and their unmarried
children live with them. But in joint family three or more than three generations live to
fatherly, so size turns bigger.
2. Generally in Nuclear Families family control is not very strong but in joint family eldest
men or the family lay strict control over the family so that they cannot behave against the
family norms, but sometimes, because of chief member’s dictatorship tension spreads in the
family.
3. In Nuclear Family the children find many opportunities of personality development because
parent children enjoy close relationship and parents arrange good education to them as per
resources.
But in joint family system, they follow same principle for all even for talented children they
do not pay attention.
4. Dr. S.S. Gore has adopted a new measure to differentiate between nuclear and joint family
system.
5. According to him, in nuclear family husband and wife are closely related. Wife and chil-
dren are important in such families. In joint family all decisions are taken by the head of the
family, after taking, consent of male members only and ladies and children get neglected.

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