FAMILY

Definition
The Family is a small group consisting ordinarily of
father, mother, one or more children and sometimes near
or distant relatives. The word ‘family’ has been taken over
from Latin word ‘Famulus’, which means servant.
Originally family consists of a man, woman with a child
or children and servants.
M.F Nimkoff says that “Family is a more or less durable
association of husband and wife with or without child, or a
man or woman alone, with children.”
Eliot
and Merrill: Family is “The biological social unit
composed of husband, wife and children.”
MacIver: Family is a group defined by sex relationship
sufficiently precise and enduring to provide for the
procreation and upbringing of children.

Francis. T. Brown: The basic unit of social structure in

every society is the family.
 Theories regarding origin or
evolution of family
Lewis Morgan’s Theory
 Lewis Morgan (1818-1881) in his book “Ancient Society” dealt
with family. He tried to find out the origin of human civilization in
his book. Morgan showed that did not exist from the beginning of
human life; rather it developed through a process of evolution.
 According to Morgan the original state of mankind was one of
sexual promiscuity. In this state unrestricted sexual relationship
existed among the men and women. The children born were the
children of whole community.
 What are the different types of
family found in the world?
On the basis of type of marriage

(a) Monogamous Family:

In this family, the married couple and their children stay. It

is formed on the basis of a single marriage.

(b)Polygamous Family:

When one male or a female marries more than one female

or male, a polygamous family is formed. This type of family

is neither common in modern societies, nor it bears the
approval of the society.
On the basis of descent and authority
(a) Matriarchal Families:
In such families the mother holds the major authority.

The mother and her family stay together and the family
name of the mother's side is given to her children. The
husband comes to stay with the wife's relatives.

(b) Patriarchal Families:

The authority in such a family lies with the father. The

wife goes to stay with her husband and his relatives

after their marriage. Children carry father's name. The
father holds the authority to take major decisions.
On the basis of size

(a) Nuclear Family: It is also called primary

family. It refers to such families in which a
husband, his wife and their children stay
together.
(b) Joint Family:

It is also called extended family. Husband, wife,

their children and husband's relatives stay

together. Thus it is an association or group of
two or more nuclear families.
On the basis of community

(a) Rural Family:

A rural family may be defined as a group of persons

constituting a family which lives in an agricultural or

open country environment. It is generally characterized
by a relatively early age of marriage, high birth rate and
low divorce rate.
(b) Urban Family:

Such families generally dwell in cities. They have the

small size, higher age of marriage, secular outlook,

freedom of women and less attachment to traditions.
On the basis of orientation and procreation

(a) Family of Orientation:

This is the family in which an individual takes birth. In this

family along with the individual, his parents and siblings

stay together.
(b) Family of Procreation:

This is the family which an individual establishes or adopts

after marriage. This family comprises the individual, his

wife and children produced after marriage. Any individual
can be a member of either or both types of families.
On the basis of relationships

(a) Consanguineous Family:

It refers to those families in which blood relatives stay

together. In addition to husband and wife, other blood

relatives also reside and live in the family.

(b)Conjugal Family:
That family constitutes husband, wife and their children.

Such families are smaller in size and less stable. In such

families, the marriage based relations have more
importance. The emotional and affectional bonds between
the members are strong.
On the basis of religion:
(a) Hindu Family:

In this type of family, marriage is considered to be compulsory

and important ritual. Generally, it is monogamous family with

joint family system. Culture and traditions have important roles
to play in day-to-day life. The trend is now shifting from joint
family system towards nuclear family.
(b) Muslim Family:

Marriage is considered compulsory in this type of family also.

Mostly polygamous trend is seen in Muslim family. They are

quite orthodox and women are strictly kept in well and granted
very little or no freedom.
(c) Christian Family:

Monogamous families are a tradition in this community also.

Generally, nuclear families are found and boys and girls are
given equal importance and freedom.
On the basis of culture
In this respect, there are two types of culture, i.e., Western

culture and Eastern culture and on this basis the families

also can be classified.
(a) Families with Western Culture:

The Western culture gives equal status to men and women.

The work, the responsibilities and the rights are equally

shared between husband and wife. The families have nuclear
set-up in most cases.
(b) Families with Eastern Culture:

Mostly joint or extended families are found in this culture.

Rural families are common. Parents in old age are looked

after by the family. They are closely bound to their culture
and traditions.
 Functions of a family
(1) Stable Satisfaction of Sex need: This is the Primary
and essential function of family. Sex instinct is the natural
urge of human being. The satisfaction of this need
requires that both male and female should live together as
life partners.
It is the family where the husband and wife can satisfy

their sex instincts easily and comfortably. Without family

the satisfaction of sex need is almost socially quite
impossible. A family not only satisfies but also provides
the appropriate mechanism through marriage to regulate
sexual behavior of husband and wife.
(2) Reproduction or procreation:
Reproduction or procreation is another
essential function of family. The family along
with regulating the sexual behavior in relation
to the satisfaction of sexual needs secures a
legitimate basis for procreation.
Since the inception of family, it has been

performing this fundamental function. This

function of family contributes to the continuity
of family and ultimately perpetuates the
human race as a whole.
(3) Protection and care of the young:
Protection and care of the children is another

essential function of family. It is regarded as an

institution par excellence for the production and
rearing of children.
It is true that no other institution can take

required care of the child like family. The child

at birth is complete helpless and cannot survive
at all without the help of the family. It is the
family which provides care, protection, security
(Physical, mental) and fulfills all other needs to
make him fit in the society.
(4) Socializing Functions:
Family is one of the primary agents of socialization.

Family members teach the child the norms, value

morals, beliefs and ideals of society.
In the family the children first learn what is good

and bad, what is right and wrong. They develop

specific habits, traits of character, attitudes and
values.
The senior members of the family pass the family

culture to the new generation thought socialization

process. Thus, family acts an instrument of culture
transmission.
(5) Provision of a home:
 Family makes a provision of a home or a
common habitation for its members.
 Here both husband and wife if live together for
procreation, protection and care of the
children. It is a place of multifarious activities.
All the members of the family depend on home
for comfort, protection and peace. It is that
institution which provides the mental or the
emotional satisfaction. Members of the family
exchange their love, sympathy and affection
among themselves
 NUCLEAR FAMILY
 Definition
 According to Mitchell ,it can be defined as
“a small group composed of husband and
wife and immature children which
constitute a unit apart from the rest of
the community.”

 It simple words, a nuclear family is one

which consists of the husband, wife and
their children.
 After their marriage, the
children leave their parental
home and establish their
separate household.
 It is an autonomous unit free
from the control of the elders.
 Since there is a physical
distance between parents and
their married children.
 Recent trend in the modern
nuclear family
 Its structure has changed ,its function
have been altered and its nature has
been affected.
 Various factors-
social,economic,educational,legal,cultural
,scientific,tecnological,[Link] been
responsible for this.
 A few significant trends may be denoted:
 (1)Industrialisation:
 The Industrial Revolution of the 18th
century and the consequent birth of
the factory system of production
affected the economic functions of
the family.

 (2)Urbanisation:
Industrialisation and
Urbanisation very often go
together. Cities are growing in
size and in number. Family is
cut to size. Families are now the
 (3)Democratic Ideals:
 Democracy assures equality and provides
liberty to all, to women too. Women now
play not only domestic roles but also
economic and political roles.

 (4)The decline of the influence of

mores and the religious beliefs, and
the spread of secular attitude:
The religious function of the family have
diminished.
 (5)The spirit of individualism and
romantic love:
 Today it is widespread.

 (6)Economic independence of
women:
 Employment opportunities
 Works in various office

 (7)Emancipation of women:
 Women are now liberated from the chain
of traditionalism.
 (8)Decline in birth rate:
 The size of family is becoming smaller.

 (9)Divorce:
 LOVE is no more sacramental. Love at
first sight and divorce at next is quite
common.

 (10)Parent-Youth conflict:
 Interpersonal conflict increasing
 Generation gap
 Functions of modern nuclear
family
 (1) Stable satisfaction of sex need
 No other agency has been able to take
up this task to the satisfaction of the
members.

 (2) Procreation and upbringing of

children:
 The family is regarded as the proper
authority to produce children and to bring
them up.
 (3) Socialisation of children:
 Social norms, values and ideals are
picked up by the child in the family only.

 (4) Provision of home:

 It is a happy place to live in both for
parents and their children.
 Other agencies such as hotels. hostels
etc. may provide shelter to the members
but not the needed love and affection.
 The Joint Family
 Definition
 The joint family is also known as
‘individual family’ and sometimes as
‘extended family’.

 Its normally consists of members who at

least belong to the three generations:
husband and wife. their unmarried
children, and their married as well as
unmarried grandchildren.
 The joint family is one which consists of
members related through blood and
spread over several generations living
together under a common roof and work
under a common head.
Characteristics of Joint Family
 1. Depth of generation:
 Three or more generations
 2. Common roof
 regular contract, discuss educational
and employment problem.
 3. Common kitchen:
 Normally eldest female members
supervises the work at the kitchen.
Women serve the food to men first
 [Link] worship:
 Members of the family take part in
common worship, rites and ceremonies.
 [Link] property:
 The head of the family manages the
family property like a trustee.

 [Link] of authority:
 Eldest male member commands others.
 [Link] marriages:

 [Link]:

 [Link] with obligations

towards the family:
 Every members has his own duties and
obligations towards the family.
 The senior most member of the family acts as
the guide for other members.
 10. Self sufficiency:
 It used to meet the economic, recreational,
medical, educational and other needs of the
member.
 Merits of Joint Family
 [Link] and durable

 [Link] economic progress

 Basic needs-food ,clothing and shelter a
first condition of economic progress.
 It prevents the sub-division and
fragmentation of land-holdings and helps
scientific farming.
 [Link] economy of expenditure
 No single member has an absolute right in
family property.

 4. Secures the advantages of division of

labour
 The work is distributed among the members
on the basis of age and sex.

 5. Serves as a social insurance company

 For the people such as orphans, widows, the
deserted, divorced the joint family serves as
a social insurance company. It gives them
food, shelter and protection.
 [Link] social security
 In times of accident, crises and
emergencies one can rely on one’s joint
family for the needed help.

 [Link] leisure
 Work is shared by all the members on the
basis of age, sex, experience, they get
more leisure time. Woman are the main
beneficiaries of leisure.
 8. Provides recreation also

 Childish play between the too aged and

the little babies, the funny talks of the
old.

 9. Helps social control

 The joint family by exercising control over
the behaviour of its member acts as an
agency of social control.
 10. Provides psychological security

 11. Promotes cooperative virtues

 Joint family is said to be the breeding
ground of love, self help, cooperation,
tolerance, discipline, loyalty, sacrifice
virtues of life.
 Demerits of Joint Family
 1. Retards the development of
personality

 The joint family does not provide enough

scope for the members to develop
qualities of adventure, self-determination,
industriousness, etc. The elder once take
up too many responsibilities and the
younger ones are overprotected.
 [Link] individual initiative and
enterprise
 The joint family does not provide proper
opportunities for the members to develop
their talents.
 Any new enterprise or adventure on the
part of the young people is discouraged
by the head of the family.
 3. Narrows down loyalties

 Joint family makes the members to

develop narrow-mindedness.
 4. Promotes idleness
 The joint family is said to be home of idlers
and drones.

 5. Not favourable for savings and

investment
 There is no inspiration for the accumulation
of capital and investment.

 6. The centre of quarrels

 The joint family is said to be hotbed of
quarrels and bickering especially among
the womenfolk.
 7. Denies privacy
 Since the joint family is always
overcrowded, privacy is denied to the
newly wedded couple.
 They rarely get opportunities to talk
about their personal matters. Hence they
fail to develop intimacy.
 8. Affects Socialisation of children

 Due to the lack of intimacy and privacy

between the husband and wife, the
socialisation of children is affected very
badly.
 9. Undermines the status of women
 They are made to work like servants.
They are not given sufficient freedom to
express and to develop their personality.

 10. Encourages litigation

 Normally disputes over the common
property crop us at the time of partition.

 11. Favours uncontrolled

reproduction
 Higher birth rate
 12. Limits social mobility

 The joint family is said to be more

conservative in nature.

 13. Encourages nepotism

 Some are the opinion that the joint family
is the root cause of nepotism and
discrimination.
THANK YOU ALL