Sociology - Family and Structure, Law and Family The family in India does not consist only of husband, wife and their children but also of uncles, aunts and cousins and grandsons. This system called Joint family or extended family system, is a peculiar characteristic of the Indian social life.

1. Law and Family
Unit - 4

2. Family
Family is traced to the Roman word famulus or to the
Latin word familia, means a household comprising
servants or workers and slaves, along with other
individuals having marriage or blood relations.
Thus, family consisted of a man and a woman with a
child or children and servants.
It is a small social group consisting of a father, mother,
and one or more children.
The meaning of family has changed over the year.

3. Structural Features of (Joint) Family
Authoritarian structure
Goals of the family are more important than the
goals of the individual members
Status/Seniority of members is determined by their
age and relationships
Conjugal relationship is subordinated to the
consanguinity bond
Division of labour

4. Functional Aspects of (Joint)
Family
Common rituals and ceremonies integrate the
family.
Both primary and secondary socialization.
Members share a bond of mutual obligations,
understanding amongst each other, love, reciprocal
relationships and a cooperative spirit.
Functional unit which is based on socialistic norms.
The rights and privileges are divided amongst its
members.

5. Functions of Family
Social unit – living together along with adopted persons.
Emotional basis – love, affection, belongingness & intimacy.
Formative influence – moulds the personality (physical &
mental).
Basic / Economic needs – food, clothing & shelter.
Limited size – small group, etc…
Sexual needs – biological unit allows institutionalized
sexual relationship between husband & wife.
Cultural transmission – religious traditions, mores, customs,
values, beliefs, etc…
Nucleus of the social structure – centre of all social
organizations & possesses a close relation.

6. Continue…
Permanent and temporary in nature
A system of name – each family is
recognized by some name which is based
on geographical area, occupation, caste,
religion or ancestral origin.
Social regulation – social control,
socialization, personality development,
discipline, etc…

7. Types of Family
On the basis of authority.
On the basis of residence.
On the basis of ancestry.
On the basis of marriage.
On the basis of dominance.

8. Types of family
On the basis of authority
Patriarchal – male dominant, female subordinate.
Matriarchal – female dominant, male subordinate.
On the basis of residence
Patrilocal – wife lives in husband’s home.
Matrilocal – husband lives in wife’s home.
On the basis of ancestry
Patrilineal – father is the basis of ancestry.
Matrilineal – mother is the basis of ancestry.

9. Types of family
On the basis of marriage
Monogamous – one man marries only one woman.
Polygamous – one man marries several women.
Polyandrous - one woman marries several men.
On the basis of dominance
Nuclear – husband, wife with or without children.
Join Family – couple lives together with their
children’s family.
Extended family – husband, wife, children & other
dependents like brothers & sisters stay together.

10. Joint Family
The family in India does not consist only of husband,
wife and their children but also of uncles, aunts and
cousins and grandsons.
This system called Joint family or extended family
system, is a peculiar characteristic of the Indian social
life.
A son after marriage does not usually separate himself
from the parents but continues to stay with them under
the same roof and holding property in common.
The earnings of all the members are put in a common
fund out of which family expenses are met.
The family in India is based on Patrilineal descent.

11. Characteristics of Joint Family
Large size.
Common residence/roof.
Depth of generation.
Joint property.
Co-operative organization.
Common religion.

12. Nuclear Family
A nuclear family is one which consists of the
husband, wife and their children.
The children leave the parents as soon as they are
married.
A nuclear family is an autonomous unit free from
the control of elders.
There is minimum interdependence between them.
E.g. American family.

13. Characteristics of Nuclear
Family
• Monogamous – tend to stay together under one roof at
any circumstances.
• Responsibilities – exclusively on the husband & wife.
• Small & Intimate – friendly relations.
• Emotional component – fear, anger & disappointment.
• Impermanent – temporary/transitory.

14. Blended Family
A social unit consisting of two previously married parents
and the children of their former marriages.
The term Blended family or Step Family describes
families with mixed parents: one or both parents
remarried, bringing children of the former family into the
new family
A Stepfamily is the family one acquires when a parent
enters a new marriage, whether the parent was widowed
or divorced.
For example, if a father dies and a mother marries
another man, the new man is a stepfather for her
children and vice versa.

15. Extended Family
The term Extended Family defines the family that extends
beyond the nuclear family consisting of grandparents,
aunts, uncles and cousins all living nearby or in the same
household.
An extended family may be crammed into a single house,
or it may occupy a cluster of houses within an extended
family compound.