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Sociology of Kinship

Notes
accomplish its motives. It is essential, for a family to remain constantly sensitive to the changing
circumstances of the society and to adopt them in a suitable manner.

Factors Affecting A Family
“The allegations of changing family trends are more than the changes in the family itself. It is in
a state of infection because the culture itself is in a state of infection.”
First, let us discuss the effects of Applied science. Science has started bringing about revolution-
ary economic changes in the Industrialisation area. “Instead of home the factory has become the
unit of production” because the steam boiler was too big for home. Moreover, the quantity of
power it generated, required, a bigger space.
Another effect of Applied Science that has been visible is in the form of improvement in birth
control techniques and their expansion. It is true that earlier too, there had been efforts to find
out effective measures to control birth rate. So, this is not a new thing. But still, going by its high
skills and extensive appeal, it is indeed a new thing. It is being talked everywhere and is being
campaigned and advertised aggressively. Publicly, standard of a small family is supported in a
logical language, amidst the masses.
The reason behind the dominance of urban culture is the making of a mark on family by bringing
about extremely pivotal social changes of the various aspects of urban life, which affect the fam-
ily, we discuss about two, here. On one hand, because of the soaring of population, there is the
need to create opportunities for specific services related to public recreation, health, etc. On the
other hand, the male members of certain urban families spend most of their time outside homes
due to work. As a result, the father in an urban family, Plays a little role in the education of his
children as compared to the father who comes from an agriculture based economy. At times the
mother too, has to go out to work. People living in such circumstances have thus developed pre-
school agencies like creche, nursery, Kindergarten, etc., to take care of small children.
But the urban effect is not limited to people who are in its geographical boundaries. The fact is
that its effect is very extensive and it interferes in every level of society.
Finally we have to keep in mind the fact that the complications of modern life have burdened
the state with various social and economical duties. Earlier these duties were related to the
family only. To provide examples, we can mention the various socially secure measures, which
have been activated by the modern states.
Because of the various such effects, every characteristic of a modern family indicates that the
long established fundamental standards, which were based on agriculture or household are fast
depleting.

Structure of Modern Family
In this respect it is important to note that nuclear families have, destabilized the blood-related
families. Such changes are increasingly visible in the urban areas of India. As a production unit,
the depletion of economic importance of a family, has shaken the unity of the family group.
When a certain individual secures a job in a factory and frees himself from his parents and
brothers, his intention to support the joint family does not remain as strong as it was, when he
and his brothers worked together on their land.
Second important aspect to be noted is the change which occurs in the husband-wife’s relation.
The financial independence achieved by a women has affected her entire view point on mar-
riage. Now, she does not need a “provider” to that extent. Her choice of marriage is determined
by factors such as love, affection, interests or similarity in nature. Since a modern family is no
more a production unit, men too, choose a wife on similar basis rather than her skills or working
capacity. Not only this, the financial independence of man and women has now set them free of

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