Family & Marriage | Social Issue for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Social Issues 
Important Sociological Terms to Know 
Family & Marriage 
Family  
Family is a group of person directly linked by kin connection, adult members of which 
assume responsibility of caring of children.  
Emphasis is on criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of 
family.   
 
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
Primarily divided in 2: 
1. Joint 
2. Nuclear 
 
Functions of family  
• Sexual  
• Economic 
• Educational 
• Reproductive 
• Primary Socialization of Children 
• Adult Stabilization  
• Physical Security 
• Legitimate Sexual Gratification  
• Entertainment  
Page 2


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Social Issues 
Important Sociological Terms to Know 
Family & Marriage 
Family  
Family is a group of person directly linked by kin connection, adult members of which 
assume responsibility of caring of children.  
Emphasis is on criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of 
family.   
 
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
Primarily divided in 2: 
1. Joint 
2. Nuclear 
 
Functions of family  
• Sexual  
• Economic 
• Educational 
• Reproductive 
• Primary Socialization of Children 
• Adult Stabilization  
• Physical Security 
• Legitimate Sexual Gratification  
• Entertainment  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
• Status To Individual 
• Legacy  
• New Members To Society 
• Cultural Transmission  
• Social Control Over Individual  
• As a Unit of Producing Things 
Page 3


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Social Issues 
Important Sociological Terms to Know 
Family & Marriage 
Family  
Family is a group of person directly linked by kin connection, adult members of which 
assume responsibility of caring of children.  
Emphasis is on criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of 
family.   
 
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
Primarily divided in 2: 
1. Joint 
2. Nuclear 
 
Functions of family  
• Sexual  
• Economic 
• Educational 
• Reproductive 
• Primary Socialization of Children 
• Adult Stabilization  
• Physical Security 
• Legitimate Sexual Gratification  
• Entertainment  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
• Status To Individual 
• Legacy  
• New Members To Society 
• Cultural Transmission  
• Social Control Over Individual  
• As a Unit of Producing Things 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Dysfunctions of family 
• Status quoist  
• Inducing psychological disorders in children because of parental 
expectations 
• Conflicts amongst members based on mutual expectations - parents fight, 
children rebel 
• Sexual & physical exploitation of women legitimised in the name of family. 
Physical exploitation in terms of unpaid labour. 
• Women are subject to domestic violence - marriage licence is a hitting 
licence  
• Neutralization device for deviant acts - corruption justified in the name of 
family  
• Members creativity hampered by training to submit  
 
  
Page 4


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Social Issues 
Important Sociological Terms to Know 
Family & Marriage 
Family  
Family is a group of person directly linked by kin connection, adult members of which 
assume responsibility of caring of children.  
Emphasis is on criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of 
family.   
 
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
Primarily divided in 2: 
1. Joint 
2. Nuclear 
 
Functions of family  
• Sexual  
• Economic 
• Educational 
• Reproductive 
• Primary Socialization of Children 
• Adult Stabilization  
• Physical Security 
• Legitimate Sexual Gratification  
• Entertainment  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
• Status To Individual 
• Legacy  
• New Members To Society 
• Cultural Transmission  
• Social Control Over Individual  
• As a Unit of Producing Things 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Dysfunctions of family 
• Status quoist  
• Inducing psychological disorders in children because of parental 
expectations 
• Conflicts amongst members based on mutual expectations - parents fight, 
children rebel 
• Sexual & physical exploitation of women legitimised in the name of family. 
Physical exploitation in terms of unpaid labour. 
• Women are subject to domestic violence - marriage licence is a hitting 
licence  
• Neutralization device for deviant acts - corruption justified in the name of 
family  
• Members creativity hampered by training to submit  
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Family in Present Times 
There are many changes happening. 
For example, the role of elderly is being increasingly confined to rituals only. 
The family is increasingly becoming filiocentric, that is, focused on kids. 
Do talk of phenomenon like ‘6 pocket syndrome’ family. 
 
Also, let us see the changes happening in the institution of family in a more 
analytical manner : 
 
1. Changed nature of relationships- 
Husband wife relationship  
• changing from authority of husband to cooperation  
• rise of dual career families  
Parent children relationship  
• changed from father being instrumental & mother being expressive to 
that of children-centric. 
• rise of six pocket syndrome   
Between siblings  
• from authority of brother to that of equality, Fellowship or authority of 
the eldest. 
Relationship with Elders  
• from authority of eldest male karta to them only been confined in 
religious events  
 
2. Structural changes- 
Earlier relationship - sacred  
• now more of convenience and companionship driven  
 
Earlier divorce - stigma  
• now easier  
 
Earlier harmony in favour of male’s order  
Page 5


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Social Issues 
Important Sociological Terms to Know 
Family & Marriage 
Family  
Family is a group of person directly linked by kin connection, adult members of which 
assume responsibility of caring of children.  
Emphasis is on criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of 
family.   
 
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
Primarily divided in 2: 
1. Joint 
2. Nuclear 
 
Functions of family  
• Sexual  
• Economic 
• Educational 
• Reproductive 
• Primary Socialization of Children 
• Adult Stabilization  
• Physical Security 
• Legitimate Sexual Gratification  
• Entertainment  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
• Status To Individual 
• Legacy  
• New Members To Society 
• Cultural Transmission  
• Social Control Over Individual  
• As a Unit of Producing Things 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Dysfunctions of family 
• Status quoist  
• Inducing psychological disorders in children because of parental 
expectations 
• Conflicts amongst members based on mutual expectations - parents fight, 
children rebel 
• Sexual & physical exploitation of women legitimised in the name of family. 
Physical exploitation in terms of unpaid labour. 
• Women are subject to domestic violence - marriage licence is a hitting 
licence  
• Neutralization device for deviant acts - corruption justified in the name of 
family  
• Members creativity hampered by training to submit  
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Family in Present Times 
There are many changes happening. 
For example, the role of elderly is being increasingly confined to rituals only. 
The family is increasingly becoming filiocentric, that is, focused on kids. 
Do talk of phenomenon like ‘6 pocket syndrome’ family. 
 
Also, let us see the changes happening in the institution of family in a more 
analytical manner : 
 
1. Changed nature of relationships- 
Husband wife relationship  
• changing from authority of husband to cooperation  
• rise of dual career families  
Parent children relationship  
• changed from father being instrumental & mother being expressive to 
that of children-centric. 
• rise of six pocket syndrome   
Between siblings  
• from authority of brother to that of equality, Fellowship or authority of 
the eldest. 
Relationship with Elders  
• from authority of eldest male karta to them only been confined in 
religious events  
 
2. Structural changes- 
Earlier relationship - sacred  
• now more of convenience and companionship driven  
 
Earlier divorce - stigma  
• now easier  
 
Earlier harmony in favour of male’s order  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
• now increasing instances of conflict and violence  
 
Earlier only culturally institutionalized marriages  
• Now culturally plus legally and non institutionalized marriages as well. for 
example single parent, gay parent, live-in. 
 
Earlier prevalence of joint families  
• Now nuclear families. Or more of integrated joint families. 
 
Changing Definition of Family - 
The family’s definition is also changing and cannot be seen as a unit where adults 
take responsibility of children with commitment. 
Also, there are alternatives coming for family for example -  
• Schools and crèches to socialize  
• Police to stabilize adults  
• Modern occupations in addition to family occupations  
• Media for entertainment