Discuss the concept of family. Explain the changing forms of family in India. 500 words
Answers
Family is one of the most important social institutions. Most of the world’s population lives in family units; it is an important primary group in the society. Family is the most pervasive and universal social institution. It plays a vital role in the socialisation of individuals. Family is regarded as the first society of human beings.
It is known as the first school of citizenship. One is born in family, grows in it, works for it and dies in it. One develops emotional attachment to it. The parental care imparts to the child the first lesson in social responsibility and acceptance of self-discipline. Family is the backbone of social structure. It occupies a nuclear position in society.
Meaning of Family:Broadly speaking, family refers to the group comprising parents and children. It may also refer, in some cases, to a group of relatives and their dependants forming one household. All these refer to the compositional aspect of this institution. Another aspect is that of residence of its members.
They usually share common residence, at least for some part of their lives. Thirdly, there is the relational aspect of the family. Members have reciprocal rights and duties towards each other. Finally, the family is also an agent of socialisation. All these aspects make this institution different from all other units of social structure.
As Mack and Young say, “The family is the basic primary group and the natural matrix of personality”. According to the Bureau of Census (U.S.A.). “Family is a group of two or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption and residing together”. Some of other important definitions of family are as follows.
According to Maclver and Page, “Family is a group defined by a sex relationship, sufficiently precise and enduring to provide for the procreation and upbringing of children”.
According to Burgess and Locke, “Family is a group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood or adoption; consisting a single household, interacting and intercommunicating with each other in their social roles of husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister creating a common culture”.
As a K. Davis defines, “Family is a group of persons whose relations to one another are based upon consanguinity and who are, therefore, kin to one another”.
According to Elliot and Meril, “Family is the biological social unit composed of husband, wife and children.
Biesanz writes “The family may be described as a woman with a child and a man to look after them”.
Strictly defined, family consists of parents and children. Its members are more closely related to one another through the process of reproduction. It is a universal institution found in every age and in every society.
Characteristics of family:1. A Mating Relationship:A family comes into existence when a man and woman establish mating relation between them.
2. A Form of Marriage:Mating relationship is established through the institution of marriage. The society regulates sexual behaviour between opposite sexes through the institution of marriage. Through the institution of marriage, mating relationship is established. Without marriage family is not possible. Hence, family is a form of marriage.
3. A Common Habitation:A family requires a home or household for its living. Without a dwelling place the task of child-bearing and child rearing cannot be adequately performed. The members of a family have a common habitation or household.
4. A System of Nomenclature:Every family is known by a particular name. It has own system of reckoning descent. Descent may be recognized through male line or through the mother’s line. In patrilineal families descent is recognized through male line. Similarly, in matrilineal families descent is recogned through mother’s line.
5. An Economic Provision:Every family needs an economic provision to satisfy the economic needs. The head of the family carries on certain profession and earns to maintain the family.
6. System of Interaction and Communication:The family is composed of persons who interact and communicate with each other in their social roles such as husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter etc.
It is important to mention that the family is composed of persons united by ties of marriage, blood or adoption. The family maintains a common but a distinctive culture.