Indian Traditional Family Ideology

INDIAN TRADITIONAL FAMILY IDEOLOGY
The term family is derived from the Latin word ‘familia’ denoting a
household establishment and refers to a “group of individuals living
together during important phases of their lifetime and bound to each
other by biological and/or social and psychological relationship”.
 The group also includes persons engaged in an ongoing socially
sanctioned apparently sexual relationship, sufficiently precise and
enduring to provide for the procreation and upbringing of children.
 Unlike the western society, which puts impetus on “individualism”,
the Indian society is “collectivistic” in that it promotes
interdependence and co-operation, with the family forming the focal
point of this social structure.
The Indian and Asian families are therefore, far more involved in
caring of its members, and also suffer greater illness burden than
their western counterparts. Indian families are more intimate with
the patient, and are capable of taking greater therapeutic
participation than in the west.
Definition of Family
Burgess and Lock-Family is a group of person as united by the
ties of marriage, blood or adoption consisting of single
household interacting and inter communicating with each
other in their respective social role of husband and wife,
mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister
creating a common culture.
Maciver- Family is a group defined by a sex relationship
sufficiently precise and enduring to provide for procreation
and upbringing of children.
Davis-Family is a group of persons whose relations to one
another are based upon consanguinity and who are therefore
Kin to another.
Structurally, the Indian joint family includes three to four living
generations, including grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts,
nieces and nephews, all living together in the same household,
utilizing a common kitchen and often spending from a common
purse, contributed by all.
Change in such family structure is slow, and loss of family units
after the demise of elderly parents is counterbalanced by new
members entering the family as children, and new members
(wives) entering by matrimonial alliances, and their offsprings.
The daughters of the family would leave following marriage.
Functionally, majority of joint families adhere to a patriarchal
ideology, follow the patrilineal rule of descent, and are patrilocal;
although matrilocal and matriarchal families are quite prevalent
in some southern parts of the country.
The lines of hierarchy and authority are clearly drawn, with each
hierarchical strata functioning within the principal of “collective
responsibility”. Rules of conduct are aimed at creating and
maintaining family harmony and for greater readiness to cooperate
with family members on decisions affecting almost all aspects of
life, including career choice, mate selection, and marriage.
While women are expected to accept a position subservient to
males, and to subordinate their personal preferences to the needs
of other, males are expected to accept responsibility for meeting
the needs of others.
The earning males are expected to support the old; take care of
widows, never-married adults and the disabled; assist members
during periods of unemployment and illness; and provide security
to women and children. Psychologically, family members feel an
intense emotional interdependence, empathy, closeness, and
loyalty to each other.
Functions of a Family-
According to Groves and Ogburn-

Protection and care of young.
Regulation and control of sex impulse.
Conservation and transmission of social heritage.
Provision of opportunity for most intimate contacts.
According t Robert Bierstedt-
• Life and survival.
• Sexual Opportunity.
• Protection and support.
• Socialization.
• Status Ascription.
• Replacement of species.
• Sexual Control.
• Maintenance.
• Cultural Transmission.
• Social Identification.
General Functions-
Biological Functions.
Psychological Functions.
Economical Functions.
Social Functions.
Political Functions.
Religious Functions.
Recreational Functions.
Socialization Functions.
The changing Indian family
The socio-cultural milieu of India is undergoing change at a

tremendous pace, leaving fundamental alterations in family
structure in its wake. The last decade has not only witnessed
rapid and chaotic changes in social, economic, political, religious
and occupational spheres; but also saw familial changes in power
distribution, marital norms and role of women.
Gradually, nuclear families are becoming the predominant form
of Indian family institution, at least in urban areas.
Over the years there has been a progressive increase in nuclear
families, more in urban areas, with an associated progressive
decrease in the number of household members. Other important
trends include a decrease in age of the house-head, reflecting
change in power structure and an increase in households headed
by females, suggesting a change in traditional gender roles.
Changes in Functions
Responsibility for children to look after.
Change in the cultural activities.
Change in the religious activities.
Change in the recreational activities.
Change in economic activities
Changes in Structure
Breaking of marriage contract.
Change in the size and system of family.
Increase in the rights of women.
Temporary Nature.
Change in the blood relations.,
Types of families
Patriarchal and matriarchal family.
Matrilocal and patrilocal family.
Monogamous and polygamous family.
Patrilinear and matrilineal family.
Indogamous and exogamous family
Nuclear and joint family.
Concept of Joint Family
In Indian Culture the concept of joint family is from primitive
time. From ancient times children are living with parents after
marriage also.
The respect for elders was in the roots of the children.
After marriage also son does not separate himself from his
parents but continuous to be with them in same house under the
same roof. The parents are the deep rooted tree and children are
the branches without nurturing the roots the branches can not
grow or flourish.
In the Joint Family the patrichal system is adopted in which the
eldest male is the head of the family, whose decisions are
followed and respected by all the family members.
From the birth each individual each person has its share in the
property as it is joint family property.
All members who are earning contributes in the expenses of the
family. And the member who does not enjoy also shares the
property.
In Indian family system children are known by their father and
they have right to ancestor property.
According to Nehru, “Joint Family System is an insurance
against tough times. In a family, all the members are
connected to each other and they have a feeling of security in
the joint family.
In a joint family system, children get live and care of grant
parents, old grand parents are taken care by their children and
widow are given protection and care.
Merits
Simple division of labour.

 Avoids fragmentation of land.
Money saving device.
Money saving device
 Insurance against odds.
Place of recreation.
Satisfaction of basic needs.
Provides leisure.
Social control.
Cradle of social virtues.
Provides psychological security.
Co-operation and economy.
Socialism in wealth:
Continuity of culture.
Demerits
 Hindrance in the development of personality.

Strife.
Source of litigation.
Loss of privacy.
The deplorable condition of women.
Lethargy and Indolence.
Uncontrolled procreation.
Child marriage.
 Limits social mobility.
Miserable economic condition.
Hinders social change.
Causes of Disintegration of the Joint family
Industrialisation.
Urbanisation.
Education.
Modernisation and Enlightenment of Womenhood.
Westernization.
Change Marriage System.
Social Legislations.
Increase in Population.
Problem of accommodation.
Decline in Agriculture and Village Industries.
Extension of Communication and Transport.
Conflicts in Family.

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INDIAN TRADITIONAL FAMILY IDEOLOGY

According to Groves and Ogburn-

The socio-cultural milieu of India is undergoing change at a

Simple division of labour.

 Hindrance in the development of personality.

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