Joint Family in India

The joint family norm and practises in India have been subject of discussion among sociologists and anthropologists.A joint family is patrineally and fraternally extended.That is a man with his wife lives along with his sons,daughters-in-law and their children as well as unmarried daughters.The married daughters go off to live with the joint families of their husbands. There are exceptions like matrilineal families found among the Nayars,Khasis and so on.

The joint family in India is that of filial and fraternal solidarity.Therefore it acts as a corporate group whose members live in a single house,eat food prepared in a common kitchen,maintain joint property holdings and perform joint religious ceremonies.The father who is the oldest male member is the head of the family, the patriarch towards whom deferential behaviour is expected.The younger members are subordinate to older people.Further women are subordinate to men.Jointness is defined with reference to kin group composition,residence,property and mutual obligations among kin.

The authority of the joint family is fast eroded in urban settings with the change in environment.Many of the economic functions previously performed by the family are now performed by the schools,factories and government agencies.There is freedom in marital and sex relationships with women gaining equal rights.Increasingly the patriarchal role of men is being questioned with the increasing number of middle class women joining work-force.There is sense of economic participation and self-empowernment.Children are turning self reliant and have more social contacts outside family circle.