AIZAWL THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELLING

(Bachelor of Divinity 2023-2024)
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Topic: Different Types of Family in India

Submitted to: Rev. Dr. Vanlaltluanga
Submitted by: David Lalramthara (BD III, Roll No. 1)
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1. Introduction:
Family is a unit of society and is the most simple and basic form of society. It is a universal
social institution and an unavoidable and inseparable part of human life. Family is the social group
that has the most impact on an individual’s life, from birth to death, the family has a constant
influence on the individuals. It is the first group in which we feel comfortable because it provides
the most lasting relationship in one form or another. Every person grows up in a family, and each
of us is a member of at least one family. In general, family can be defined as a group of people
who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption and live together. Families are the foundation of
society, though the shape of the family varies greatly around the world. 1
Let us look at some of the definitions of family provided by various social scientists to
clarify its meaning –
Burgess and Locke – “Family is a group of persons united by household interacting and inter-
communicating with each other in their respective social roles of husband and wife, father and
mother, son and daughter, brother and sister, creating a common culture.”2
Maclver and Page – “Family is a group defined by sex relationships sufficiently precise and
enduring to provide for the procreation and upbringing of children.”3
Elliot and Merill – “Family is a biological social unit composed of husband, wife and children.”4

1
Amit Khawas, “Family,” Indian Institutes of Legal Studies, accessed 23 June 2023,
https://www.iilsindia.com/study-material/852617_1616386184.pdf
2
Teresa Ciabattari, Sociology of Families: Change, Continuity, and Diversity (California: SAGE
Publications, Inc, 2017), 23.
3
Lotus Arise, “Family, Household, and Marriage,” LOTUSARISE, accessed 23 June 2023,
https://lotusarise.com/family-household-and-marriage-in-sociology-upsc/
4
Hemant More, “A Family and Its Characteristics,” The Fact Factor, accessed 23 June 2023,
https://thefactfactor.com/tag/elliot-and-merril/

1
2. Family in India:
In India, family is frequently viewed as an ideal homogeneous unit with strong coping
mechanisms. It is a fundamental, cohesive, and essential unit of larger social systems. Furthermore,
in a large and culturally diverse country like India, families come in a variety of shapes and sizes
that vary according to class, ethnicity, and individual preferences. Its members are linked together
by interpersonal relationships in a larger network of role and social relationships. It is regarded as
a link between community and change.5
2.1 Types of Family in India:

2.1.1 Joint Family – In its composition a joint family includes a married man, his
grandfather, his father, and three generations of collateral. The various kinsmen live in the same
house with their spouses and kids, partake in meals and religious services together, and share
property. Even though the members have different occupations, they cooperate in economic
activity and pool their earnings. The joint family provides support for the elderly, social security
for the unemployed, and nursing care for the sick and injured. Taking care of and supporting
dependents is morally required. This group’s members have a close bond with one another. They
have strong feelings of mutual obligation during times of crisis and view self-interest as being
synonymous with family welfare. They share the various routines, issues, and pleasures of social
living. 6
The joint family offers an “umbrella” of support that includes social security, death of a
spouse, financial loss, and even informal counselling. Hindus are more likely to have a joint family
than members of other communities, and agriculturalists are more likely to have them than traders,
office workers, or professionals. The lowest income group has it more frequently, while the highest
income group has it less frequently or more commonly. The joint family is most prevalent among
people of medium status when economic status is determined by the number of acres of land
owned. 7
2.1.2 Nuclear Family – The nuclear family is made up of married couples and their
unmarried children, and it typically has its own finances. An independent nuclear family is one

5
Reeta Sonawat, “Understanding Families in India: A Reflection of Societal Changes,” Psicologia: Teoria
e Pesquisa, vol. 17 (February, 2001): 177.
6
Marie Mignon Mascarenhas, Family Life Education: Value Education, 5th ed. (Bangalore: CREST, 1993),
17.
7
Mascarenhas, Family Life Education…, 18.

2
that is not subject to parental authority. Physical separation between parents and married children
or between parents and grandparents is minimized because of the newlyweds’ separate residence.
The nuclear family is a characteristic of all modern industrial societies and is the fundamental unit
of most kinship systems. In other words, it is an autonomous unit and is the most ideal form of
family in the modern industrial urban civilized society. The nuclear family is better suited to meet
the needs of industrial societies than extended family arrangements. The nuclear family is ideal
and almost universal. Compared to extended family arrangements, the nuclear family is better
suited to meet the needs of industrial societies. Ideal and nearly universal is the nuclear family. 8
George Murdock divides the nuclear family into two types- (a) The Family of Orientation,
and (b) The Family of Procreation. The family of orientations is family in which the individual is
born and reared. It consists of father, mother, brothers and sisters. The family of procreation is the
result of marriage. In other words, after marriage the individual forms the family of procreation. It
consists of husband, wife and children.9
2.1.3 Extended/Stem Family – When the nuclear family is found to be extended on all
sides by certain adhesions in the form of relatives of both sides i.e., husband’s and wife’s sides,
then it can be declared as an extended or stem family. The majority of India’s patrilineal societies
do contain this type of family, wherein the ego’s parents, his widowed sister and her children, and
even the elderly widowed father's sister may reside. These people were originally from other
nuclear families, but due to unfavorable circumstances, they were forced to move in with the ego’s
family. It's interesting to note that these adhesions are difficult to break free of this family. Such a
family is uncommon in modern and tribal societies. 10
The extended family is headed by a patriarch, who is typically the oldest male and is known
as “Karta,” who decides on financial and social issues on behalf of the entire family. The wife of
the patriarch typically exercises control over the household’s kitchen, childcare, and minor
religious rituals. Family ties are prioritized over marital ties. The arrangement offers some social
security in a familial setting.11

8
Himani Bhasin, “Change in Family Structure in the Modern Times,” The International Journal of Indian
Psychology 3/4 (July-September, 2016): 126.
9
M.P. Mishra, “Types of family Structure in India,” TheECOTrends, accessed 17 Jul 2023,
https://www.theecotrends.com/types-of-family-structure-in-india/
10
Imp Center, “Different Types of Families in India,” impcenter, accessed 18 Jul 2023,
https://imp.center/i/different-types-of-families-in-india-2323/
11
Bhasin, “Change in Family Structure in the Modern Times”…, 126.

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 2.1.4 Compound Family – A family becomes compound when the wife dies after the birth
of children and the husband marries again. The family in this instance will have two sets of kids,
one from the first wife and the other from the second. The family is a compound family because
there are two sets of kids in it. In cases of polygyny, the family also becomes compound; in these
situations, it is known as a polygynous compound family. There is a chance that a man who marries
a widow who has children from her previous marriage and who also has children from his own
first marriage will give birth to a third set of children. A complex compound family is one with
three sets of children in this situation. 12
Conclusion:
To conclude, India’s cultural diversity and social complexity are reflected in the wide range
of family structures. Every family type embodies a different set of values and challenges, whether
they are multigenerational joint families or contemporary nuclear families adjusting to the modern
world. Regardless of the variations, the value of family ties is unchanged. It is an indication to the
enduring strength and adaptability of Indian families across the region that these various family
structures coexist and contribute to India’s vibrant variety of human connections, traditions, and
love.

12
M. Sharma, “Family Types on the basis of Size of Household in India,” YourArticleLibrary, accessed 18
Jul 2023, https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/family-types-on-the-basis-of-size-of-household-in-india/41330

4
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books & Journals:

Bhasin, Himani. “Change in Family Structure in the Modern Times.” The International Journal of
Indian Psychology 3/4 (July-September, 2016): 124-137.
Ciabattari, Teresa. Sociology of Families: Change, Continuity, and Diversity. California: SAGE
Publications, Inc, 2017.
Mascarenhas, Marie Mignon. Family Life Education: Value Education. 5th ed. Bangalore: CREST,
1993.
Sonawat, Reeta. “Understanding Families in India: A Reflection of Societal Changes.” Psicologia:
Teoria e Pesquisa. Vol. 17 (February, 2001): 177-186.
Online Sources:
Arise, Lotus. “Family, Household, and Marriage.” LOTUSARISE. Accessed 23 June 2023.
https://lotusarise.com/family-household-and-marriage-in-sociology-upsc/
Center, Imp. “Different Types of Families in India.” Impcenter. Accessed 18 Jul 2023.
https://imp.center/i/different-types-of-families-in-india-2323/
Khawas, Amit. “Family.” Indian Institutes of Legal Studies. Accessed 23 June 2023.
https://www.iilsindia.com/study-material/852617_1616386184.pdf
Mishra, M.P. “Types of family Structure in India.” TheECOTrends. Accessed 17 Jul 2023.
https://www.theecotrends.com/types-of-family-structure-in-india/
More, Hemant. “A Family and Its Characteristics.” The Fact Factor. Accessed 23 June 2023.
https://thefactfactor.com/tag/elliot-and-merril/
Sharma, M. “Family Types on the basis of Size of Household in India.” YourArticleLibrary.
Accessed 18 Jul 2023. https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/family-types-on-the-
basis-of-size-of-household-in-india/41330