Introduction:
Literature on family studies in India
has grown to a large extent in the last two decades. Socio-demographic data on
families in India aiming to provide bases for analyzing research, particularly
in the area of family development. Indian families are classified as
patrilineal and matrilineal according to the lineage or descent by father or
mother. The family structure is conceptualized as the configuration of role,
power, and status and relationships in the family which depends upon the families’
socio-economic background, family pattern, and extent of urbanization.
Marriage practices are emphasized
covering subjects such as marriage patterns, selection of marriage partner, age
at marriage, and age at consummation of marriage, marriage rituals, financial
exchanges and divorce. In spite of urbanization and industrialization in the
contemporary Indian society, the family institution continues to play a central
role in the lives of people.
Changing nature of Indian family system:
1. The changing household-
As the nuclear family system has gained traction, the percentages of ‘couple only’ families have increased. The percentage of single mothers too has increased, corresponding to increasing rates of divorce in the country. Extended families (one or more parents or relatives) are also common. There are more single-mother households than single-father households.
2. Decision Making-
In traditional family, wife had no voice in family decision-making. But in contemporary family, in budgeting the family expenditure, in disciplining the children, in purchasing goods and giving gifts, the wife now credits herself as equal in power role. Though husband continues to play the instrumental role and wife the expressive role, yet both often talk things over and consult each other in the process of arriving at a decision. This also does not mean that husband-dominant family is changing into wife-dominant or equalitarian family.
3. Equal work participation-
A rise in middle-class families is seen with many being uplifted from poverty; both husband and wife take active part in work. Women being more economically, legally and educationally empowered are no more restricted to kitchen or family management.
4. Change in authority-
In
traditional family, while power and authority was totally vested in the
grandfather and he was virtually all powerful who decided everything about
education, occupation, marriage and the career of children in the family. In
contemporary family not only in nuclear but also in joint family the
grandfather has lost his authority. The authority has shifted from patriarch to
parents who consult their children on all important issues before taking any
decisions about them.
5. Less abuse and increased freedom of children-
Children
have also started discussing their problems with parents. They even oppose
their parents. Children today enjoy more freedom. Some legislative measures
have also given powers to children to demand their rights. Perhaps, it is
because of all this that parents do not use old methods of punishing their
children.
6. The Changing Indian Diet:
Over
the past 50 years, India has changed remarkably as a country. Its population
has more than doubled during this time and so has its economy. It’s only
natural then that this has had some impact on the nation’s diet. Traditionally,
the Indian diet uses less processed ingredients and more natural ingredients
than that of Western countries and its culture is more geared towards a
sit-down meal with family or friends, unlike the West whose inhabitants are
more likely to grab a meal on-the-go.
Particularly in metropolitan areas and
among younger generations, however, this tradition is slowly
changing. Many processed and convenience foods such as pickles and papads
are now easily available as well as the popularization of Western foods such as
pizzas, burgers and fries. All such factors are playing their part in bumping
up the national average of fat and sugar.
7. Changes in dressing and fashion:
Indian
clothing style have conquered fashion textile across the globe but the Indian
themselves are unaware of the treasure they have gained. Indian fashion has
transformed through years, harnessing both the traditional and cosmopolitan
look. The western influence is so strong on Indian culture that it has paved
the way for a difference in style.
Factors responsible for change in Indian
family structure:
1.
Industrialization:
With the advent of the British in India a process of industrialization started which brought about far-reaching changes in the Indian social and economic life. Industrialization resulted in the migration of rural population to the urban areas for jobs and a better standard of living breaking their relationships with the joint family. Thus, modern industries shattered the very foundation of joint family system in India. The geographical mobility of some of the members of joint family has affected the traditional structure of the joint family as well as the relations among the members. Jobs in the factory have freed young men from direct dependence upon their families and from the control of the heads of the households.
2. Urbanization:
Along with the process of industrialization, the process of urbanization has resulted in the weakening of the joint family system in India. Urban population has grown at a faster rate in our country in last few decades. The result of urbanization has been the establishment of nuclear families because urban-dwellers choose the nuclear families. Urbanization has emphasized individuality and privacy which encourage the establishment of independent family units. In addition, the women who have got gainful jobs seek more freedom in many aspects. Therefore, they try to restrict the kinship ties.
3.
Education:
Education has affected joint family system in many ways. It has brought about changes in attitudes, beliefs, values and ideologies of the people. These changes are visible among both males and females who are educated. Education has also created individualistic attitudes among the educated persons. Hence, education has worked against the maintenance of the joint family system.
4. Enlightenment of Women:
The educated Indian women are impressed by the modern family life. They have become conscious of their rights and equality with men. They have started making use of educational and employment opportunities. Education and jobs for women have brought about tremendous changes in their status. At present they earn their own living. This gives them a sense of independence. The effect of jobs for women has been towards equality. Thus, the rises in the status of women and their economic independence have adversely affected the joint family system.
5. The Impact of Western Culture:
The
impact of Western culture can be seen in many ways. It resulted in the
1.
Spread of ideals of liberty and
equality.
2.
Spread of individualism.
3.
Materialistic behavior.
As a combined result of this Western influence, the old
and traditional Hindu values underwent tremendous changes and the very nature
of joint living was affected.
6.
Change in Marriage
System:
Change in age of
marriage, freedom in mate selection and change in attitude of individuals
towards marriage have also affected joint family system. The choice of the
marriage partners is less and less determined by the head of the family. People
are less subject to parental control and other forms of social pressure regarding
whom and when they shall marry. The older external and one-sided control is
replaced by choice of mate. This has weakened the patriarchal control over the
family.
7.
Decline in
Agriculture and Village Industries:
The joint family
system emerged as a product of agrarian society. The villagers depended on
agriculture as well as agro-based collage industries. But the commodities
produced by the village artisans and craftsmen could not stand the competition
brought about by the price and quality of goods produced in the factories. Also
over-population has caused excessive pressure on the agricultural and
residential land. The agriculture no longer provides employment to the ever-
increasing number of people depending on it. The poor and the unemployed desert
their homes in search of employment elsewhere moving away from their families.
However, no matter how different families can be, they all face similar issues at the end of the day. Here are some of the most common challenges of family life today:
1. Effective discipline
Deciding how to discipline a child can be one of the hardest parts of being a parent. Ensuring that your children have manners and respect is extremely important. Many parents don’t know how to respond to negative behavior. Do you punish or reprimand them?
There are five main types of discipline , so you’ll have to
find out which one is most effective for your children. Determining which type
of discipline is right for your family should be a personal choice based on
your temperament, your child’s temperament, and your family’s discipline
philosophies.
3. Divorce adjustment and blended families
With the divorce rate
higher than it’s ever been, many children will experience a divorce, live with
a single parent, and become part of a blended family if one of their parents
remarry.
These family
challenges can be distressing for all members of the family. In a blended
family, you’ll have to do a lot of compromising, mesh parenting styles, and
combine efforts to manage complex households. Things can be even more
complicated if there are children on both sides. It’s important to make all the
children feel important and included.
4. Balancing work/school and family
life
In today’s household,
it’s common for both parents to work. This is good for your finances, but it
can put a strain on your family life. With chores, schoolwork, extracurricular
activities, and social events, it can be hard to find a healthy balance – but
it’s not possible.
First, make sure you and the rest of your
family share the load of the chores. Try to eat together as a family at least
once a day, or set a date where you do something you all enjoy and make it a
routine.
5. Divorce:
Divorce is the legal breakup of a marriage. Like every major life change, divorce is stressful. It affects finances, living arrangements, household jobs, Schedules and more. If the family includes children, they may be deeply affected.
Reasons:
- Ø Increased
aspiration of females,
- Ø Financial independency.
- Ø Increased
tendency of self centered life, fun loving self amusement, lack of adjustment.
- Ø Increased interference of parents, especially of wife`s parent in patriarchal system
- Ø Adultery
- Ø Infertility
- Ø Physical,
sexual life problems
- Ø Marriages
for estate, to maintain business relationships against will.
Effect:
- Ø Emotional
psychological breakdown, many psychological problem depression etc.
- Ø Financial
problem, difficult to adjust with changed life, difficulty in remarriage
- Ø Guilt
and faces social discrimination
- Ø children
are Most affected , emotional psychological , depression anxiety with lack of
parental care love , juvenile delinquency and schooling , lag in study career
,and disturbed their marriage life in future themselves
- Ø Deprived
mother / father love care from new mother/parent
- Ø Financial,
emotional psychological
- Ø Difficult to adjust divorced life, find difficult to get new suitable partner.
6. Effect on Child Development
In a joint family,
the child gets multiple parents and many adult figures for his or her
identification. In these families, children are overprotected and sheltered
and, as a result, self-non-self segregation is hampered. In a nuclear family,
the child has a limited set of adult models to emulate.
As a result, he or she develops a strong sense
of personal bond with the parents, with a greater scope of developing clear-cut
self-identity.
Children brought up
in single parent families have only one adult member in the family and often
lack kinship and community support. These children develop early independence
with added responsibilities.
A majority of the single parent families being
the poorest of the poor cannot adequately meet their children's needs. A large
number of children in institutions and on streets come from single parent
families.
Thus, to enhance the impact of child
development, direct work with children is not adequate. The family life and the
family's environment also have to be enriched. A strong family unit would
promote child development and prevent child destitution.
7. The Elderly's Need of a Family:
In the Indian
context, responsibility for care of the elderly is primarily borne by members
of the family. A legal provision allows the old person to claim maintenance
from his/her children, if he or she has no resources of his/her own. However,
few parents go to court to claim maintenance from their children.
The Constitution of
India recognizes the duty of the State towards the elderly. Traditionally, the aged in India continue to
live in their homes where they have been living throughout their lives.
Elderly people
experience a stage of transition from independence to interdependence, then to
total dependence, which produces a crises and tension for all generations.
The tradition of obligatory dependence on male
children is perhaps the bane of old age despite increasing evidence in recent
times that daughters are coming forward to assume the responsibility of
providing support to their elderly parents when they are abandoned by their
son(s).
Family has been recognized as a basic unit of society and is a link between individual and community. The structure of the family continues to be patriarchal. A number of changes have been observed in the patterns of marriage such as age at marriage, inter-caste marriage, etc. A relative increase is noticed in divorce cases in urban areas. It was quite common in the past but at that time families were more stable and provided adequate security in terms of physical, social and emotional needs. Current trends indicate that there is a definite change in the basic system of family, especially the role of elders and disharmony in husband-wife relationship. Divorce rates are testimony to the increasing fragility of husband-wife relationship. Migration has major implications on women and children.
Although children in several set-ups, women, and the elderlies have been the subjects of various studies, investigations on the family as a whole are clearly very limited. Here is, therefore, a need to bring together under one umbrella, all research efforts which focus on specific aspects of family with the aim of influencing family practices and family policy development
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