Kamran Ishfaq, Sociologist, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan

1. Introduction to Sociology
FAMILY
There are five social institutions namely, family institution, education institution
religion institution, political institution, economic institution .So all these
institutions are inter related and inter linked with each other as the part of
human body. As for as the family institution is concerned. Family as the social
institution performs several functions.
Kingsly Davis, Specks the four main functions of the family.
i. Reproduction.
ii. Maintenance.
iii. Placement.
iv. Socialization.
Family is the most important primary group in society. It is the simplest and the
most elementary form of society. It is outstanding primary group because child
develops its basic attitudes with in family. The family is the first group in which
we found ourselves.
The family as an institution is universal. It is the most permanent and the most
pervasive of all social institutions. Family is a small group consisting ordinary of
father, mother, one or more children and some times near or distant relatives.
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2. Introduction to Sociology
MEANING OF FAMILY.
The word ‘Family’ has been taken over from Latin word ‘Famulus’ which means
servants. Thus originally family consisted of a man and women with a child or
children and servants.
The meaning of family can be explained better by the following definition’s.
Merrill.
“Family is the biological social unit composed of husband, wife and children”.
M.F. nimkoff.
Says that “family is a more or less durable association of husband and wife with
or without child or of a man or women alone with children”.
Ogburn.
“Family is more or less durable association of husband and wife and children”.
Clare.
“Family is a system of relationship existing between parents and children”.
TYPE OF FAMILY:
TYPE OF FAMILY BY AUTHORITY:
• Patriarchal Family.
• Matriarchal Family.
• Democratic Family.
TYPE OF FAMILY BY STRUCTURE
• Joint family system /Extended family
• Nuclear family.
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3. Introduction to Sociology
TYPE OF FAMILY BY SETTLEMENT:
• Patrilocal Family.
• Matrilocal Family.
• Neo local Family.
TYPE OF FAMILY BY LINEAGE.
• Patrilenial Family.
• Matrilenial Family.
• Bilateral Family.
TYPE OF FAMILY BY AUTHORITY:
Patriarchal Family.
Patriarchal family is also known as father- centered or father dominated family.
With is family he exercises authority and he is the owner and administrator of
the family property. In the whole family matters he is the final voice and opinion.
He is all in all and the all family members subordinate to him. All the major
decisions pertaining to family affairs are taken by him only. No body has the
authority to question to him. But typical patriarchal families are not found today
in the modern industrial families.
Matriarchal Family.
Matriarchal family is also known as mother- centerd or mother dominated
family. She is the head of the family and she exercises authority. She is the owner
of the property and the manager of the house hold. All the members subordinate
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4. Introduction to Sociology
to her. She is all in all and the social thinker says that matriarchal family has been
the earliest type of the family.
Democratic Family.
In democratic family father and mother enjoy the equal status and opportunities
have emerged. These types of family exist in industrial societies. We can call
them equalitarian family. They also called modern families.
TYPE OF FAMILY BY STRUCTURE
Joint family system /Extended family:
The joint family system is also known as “undivided” family and some times
extended family. It normally consists of members who at least belong to three
generations, husband, and wife, their unmarried and married children as well as
unmarried grand children. Joint family system mostly exists in our rural
Pakistani areas.
Husband + wife + Married & Unmarried Children + Married & Unmarried
grand children
Definition of Joint Family:
i. The joint family is a mode of combining smaller families into larger
family units through the extension of three or more generations
including at least grand parents, parents and children’.
ii. Joint family may be defined as “A group of people who generally live
under one roof, who use common kitchen, who hold common
property”.
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CHARACTERISTICS OF JOINT FAMILY SYSTEM:
Depth of generations.
The joint family system consists of people of three or more generations including
at least grand parents, parents and children. Sometimes other kith and kin such
as uncles, aunts, cousins and great grandsons also live in the joint family itself.
Common roof.
Members of the joint family normally reside to gather under the same house
hold. Due to scarcity of accommodation or due to educational and employment
problems, members of the joint family may reside separately. Still, they try to
retain regular contacts and the feeling of belonging to the same family.
Common kitchen.
Members eat the food prepared jointly at the common kitchen. Normally the
eldest female member of the family supervises the work at the kitchen.
Common property.
The members hold a common property. The head of the family manages the
family property like a trustee. The total earnings of the members are pooled in to
a family treasury and family expenses are met without that.
Arranged marriages.
In the joint family, the head considers it as his privilege to arrange the marriages
of the members. The individual’s right to select his/ her life partner is
undermined. The younger members rarely challenge their decisions and
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6. Introduction to Sociology
arrangements. But now a -days, the feelings of younger ones are being given due
to weight age.
Procreation
The size of the joint family is by nature bigger. It is found to be associated with
higher rate of production. It is so because in the past procreation was regarded as
a religious duty. Members rarely practiced birth control measures. But today the
situation has changed.
Merits & Demerits of the Joint Family System:
Merits of Joint family Demerits of Joint family
Stable and durable. Retards the development of
personality
Ensure the economic progress. Damages individual initiative
Serves as a social insurance Narrows down loyalties.
company.
Provides social security. Promotes idleness.
Provides psychological security. Not favorable for saving and
investment
Helps social control. Denies privacy
Promotes cooperative virtue. Undetermined the status of women.
Causes for the changes in the joint family system
1. Influence of Education
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Modern system of education introduced by the British Government affected
joint family in several ways. It has brought about a change in the attitudes,
beliefs, values and ideologies of the people. Education which is spreading
even amongst the females has created and aroused the individualistic
feelings. Education in this way brining changes in relations in the family. As
the level of education rises, the percentage of those in favor of nuclear
families increases and the percentage of those supporting joint family living
decreases.
2. Impact of Industrialization
Factory system of production, new system of organization and management
and new style of life has also affected the joint family. It has made young men
and women leave their joint family to far away places in search of better
prospects and employment. Mostly we see that educated person in urban
areas are less in favor of joint family norms.
3. Influence of Urbanization
Cities provide opportunities to women also for gainful employment and
when women start earning; she seeks freedom in many spheres. She tries to
break away more and more from her husband’s family of orientations.
4. Change in Marriage System
Change in the age at marriage, freedom in mate-selection and change in the
attitude towards marriage have also affected our family system. Modern
young men and women not only marry at a late age but also take personal
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decision in this matter. They do not wait for parental permission. Parent’s
role in mate-selection
5. Influence of Western Values
The western values relating to modern science, rationalism, individualism,
equality, democracy, freedom of women etc. The modern educated youths
who came under the influence of these values took the earliest opportunity to
become free from the tight grip of the joint family.
6. Awareness among women.
Increasing female education, employment opportunities for women created
awareness among women particularly in the middle and upper class. They also
sought chances of becoming “free” from the authoritarian hold of the joint
family.
Nuclear family.
It can be defines as “a small group composed of husband and wife and immature
children”. In simple words nuclear family is one which consists of the husband,
wife and their children. Soon after their marriage, the children leave their
parental home and establish their separate household. Hence nuclear family is an
autonomous unit free from the control of the elders. Since there is physical
distance between parents and their married children, there is minimum
interdependence between them. Thus nuclear family is mostly independent. The
American family is a typical example of the modern independent nuclear family.
The nuclear family is a characteristic of all the modern industrial societies.
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TYPE OF FAMILY BY SETTLEMENT:
Patrilocal Family.
After the marriage the wife may reside in husband’s parental home.
Matrilocal Family.
She may stay her parental home to which the husband pays occasional visits to
her.
Neo local Family.
Both of them may establish a separate home of their own.
Husband + wife + unmarried children
TYPE OF FAMILY BY LINEAGE.
Patrilenial Family.
The decent may be traced through the male lines / husband lines.
Matrilenial Family.
The decent may be traced through the female lines/ mother line.
Bilateral Family.
Descent may be traced through both lines.
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