Page 230 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship

Notes Act,’ 1956 allowed the daughters and women the right to inherit the family property. The
‘Dowry Prevention Act’ of 1961 diminished the dominance of the head of the family. As a
result of all these Acts, the joint families started disintegrating.
5. Family Quarrels: Because of the frequent family quarrels in joint families, which were
related to property, children and women, the members started living separately in quest
for peace.
6. Reduction of Family Functions: Today, the work which was done by the joint families
earlier, has been undertaken by other unions and institutions. Thus, their utility has
diminished. Teaching is being ensured by educational institutes. Family entertainment is
ensured by business recreational institutions, clubs and movie theatres. The washing job
has been taken up by the laundries, grinding of grains is being done by flour mills and
the stitching work is being done by tailoring units. This has put an end to the individual’s
dependence on joint families.
7. Feminist Movement: The expansion of education and economic independence, has brought
about awareness in women. Today, they are trying to free themselves from the exploitative
environment of the joint families. They have starting stepping out of their homes. In order
to boost their personality. They have started supporting nuclear families. This changed
attitude of women is another cause of disintegration of the joint families.
8. Growth of Population: The population in India has grown rapidly. As a result, the pres-
sure on land has increased. When it became difficult to sustain big families by the cultiva-
tion of small portions of land, the people started moving to cities in search of jobs. This
cased disintegration of families.
9. Means of Transport and Communication: The new means of transport and communication
made the people active. During the ancient times, it was difficult to commute due to the
lack of such means. So on their own people stayed at one place, in the form of joint families.
10. Social Security: Until some time age, the joint families took care of the old, and the sick
and provided security and support in times of need. But today, health insurance, employee
compensation laws, maternity leave laws, provident fund, gratuity fund, etc., provide eco-
nomic and social security. Thus the utility of joint families has definitely diminished in the
cities, if not the villages.

Studies Regarding Joint Families
Because of the effects of various powers, the joint families started disintegrating. What form are
the joint families taking in the changed circumstances? What, are its new tendencies and how
are they different from the previous ones, etc. To find out the answers to such questions, the
census officials and the sociologists conducted various studies in different parts of the country.
Hence, we mention them briefly:
1. The Statistics of Census: Commenting on the census report of 1911, conducted in different
cities, Gait said, instability is visible in joint families. Commenting on the census report of
1951, the census official wrote, “Such a great proportion of so small families (33% in villages
and 38% in towns) gives an indirect hint that now the families do not run according to the
traditional rituals and customs of joint families. The desire to set up a new home is strong.”
Commenting on the census of 1901, Gait said, that joint families are visible only amongst
the higher castes. The lower castes and scheduled tribes, hardly follow this custom. After
marriage, men set up separate homes.
2. In 1930-1932, studies related to changed attitude regarding marriage and family were con-
ducted by T.K. Merchant. About 446 graduates were surveyed and it was found that the
educated preferred to stay in joint families. The number of women who were against joint
families outnumbered men.

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