Notes: Family | Sociology Mains Optional for UPSC 2024 PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
9. Systems of Kinship: 
 
a. Family, household, marriage. 
b. Types and forms of family. 
c. Lineage and descent. 
d. Patriarchy and sexual division oflabour. 
e. Contemporary trends. 
 
FAMILY: 
Group in which both relations of affinity and consanguinity ( adoption) are found 
GP MURDOCH: elementary family was found everywhere (studied 250 societies) 
Characteristics: common residence, economic coordination, sexual reproduction, socially approved 
sexual relations b/w adults of both sexes, children born to adults or adopted 
Murdoch thought these characteristics are universal but blacks/nayars are exceptions. So his family 
is not universal. 
Anthony Giddens give simplified definition of family as a group of person directly linked by kin 
connection, adult members of which assume responsibility of caring of children. He emphasizes on 
criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of family.   
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
1) Conjugal or Companionate: deliberately avoid having kids. DINK (Double income no kids) 
2) Nuclear (children born out of monogamous) 
3) Compound (children – polygamous) 
4) Lineally extended (3 or more generations) 
5) Laterally extended (2 or more couples) 
6) Extended joint (Henry Maine coined this- property held jointly) 
Can also be based on – Descent ( patri, matri bilateral- ex nairs of Malabar and khasis of Meghalaya 
are matrilineal) , Residence ( Matri, patri , neo, duo local), authority (patriarchy, matriarchy, 
filiocentric), name ( patronymic, metronymic) , conjugal and consanguineal.  
 
Contemporary trends: 
T Parsons : Pre industrial society had extended family ( life expectancy short, need social support, 
labor intensive economy, simple skills required taught in family) 
Industrialization (specialized skills, less labour intensive, high social/geographical mobility, 
universalistic value against particularistic value of family) 
So nucleated family becomes structural fit in industrial society 
William Goode: achieved status/ individualism against familial norms/ role bargain (maintaining 
relations with important kins). So nuclear family becoming a culture. 
Page 2


 
 
9. Systems of Kinship: 
 
a. Family, household, marriage. 
b. Types and forms of family. 
c. Lineage and descent. 
d. Patriarchy and sexual division oflabour. 
e. Contemporary trends. 
 
FAMILY: 
Group in which both relations of affinity and consanguinity ( adoption) are found 
GP MURDOCH: elementary family was found everywhere (studied 250 societies) 
Characteristics: common residence, economic coordination, sexual reproduction, socially approved 
sexual relations b/w adults of both sexes, children born to adults or adopted 
Murdoch thought these characteristics are universal but blacks/nayars are exceptions. So his family 
is not universal. 
Anthony Giddens give simplified definition of family as a group of person directly linked by kin 
connection, adult members of which assume responsibility of caring of children. He emphasizes on 
criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of family.   
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
1) Conjugal or Companionate: deliberately avoid having kids. DINK (Double income no kids) 
2) Nuclear (children born out of monogamous) 
3) Compound (children – polygamous) 
4) Lineally extended (3 or more generations) 
5) Laterally extended (2 or more couples) 
6) Extended joint (Henry Maine coined this- property held jointly) 
Can also be based on – Descent ( patri, matri bilateral- ex nairs of Malabar and khasis of Meghalaya 
are matrilineal) , Residence ( Matri, patri , neo, duo local), authority (patriarchy, matriarchy, 
filiocentric), name ( patronymic, metronymic) , conjugal and consanguineal.  
 
Contemporary trends: 
T Parsons : Pre industrial society had extended family ( life expectancy short, need social support, 
labor intensive economy, simple skills required taught in family) 
Industrialization (specialized skills, less labour intensive, high social/geographical mobility, 
universalistic value against particularistic value of family) 
So nucleated family becomes structural fit in industrial society 
William Goode: achieved status/ individualism against familial norms/ role bargain (maintaining 
relations with important kins). So nuclear family becoming a culture. 
 
 
COUNTER VIEWS 
Elizabeth Roberts: Industrialization lead to growth in extended family due to help provided 
Wilmert and Young: Regular contacts with extended family by working/middle class, babysitting 
Colin Bell: physical distance overcome by internet, telephone and air travel (frequency less but 
quality more of contact). Modified or dispersed extended family- common residence might not be 
there but kinship ties are maintained. 
Bade Thorne: ‘cereal packet image’ i.e. problem of monolithic image of family; plurality of family 
forms 
 
New developments: 
Reconstituted Family (spouses live with children of previous as well as current marriage), single 
parent, live in, dual career (Mowrer), Rapaport ( single parent, homosexual, commune living, live in) 
Contemporary trends (overall) 
Marriage losing appeal, diversity in family forms growing, rising divorces/separation/ sanctity of 
marriage declining/law has made divorce easy/stigma of divorce vanishing 
Giddens: ‘Foreever love’ changing into ‘love till further notice’ (‘plastic love’)  
Frederic Leplay uses the term unstable for working class family. 
Contemporary trends (Indian) 
Marriage still imp, major event in life, caste active, class becoming imp as well, urban areas (live in), 
divorce rate, JF has sentimental value, girl choice is considered, elderly only ritual, filiocentric, 6 
pocket syndrome family. 
Functional Aspect of family 
G Murdock in his book ‘social structure’ 4 functions (economic, controls reproduction, regulate 
sexual relations , socialises children) 
T Parsons identifies two basic functions : 1) Primary socialization of children   2) stabilization of adult 
personality 
Ronald Fletcher talked about multifunctional family in which the basic function may exist and other 
functions are being reinvented 
Further functions can be divided as 
Individual perspective: physical security (childhood), emotional/psychological/economic security, 
legitimate means of sexual gratification, entertainment, gives readymade status, initial socialization. 
Changing trends: 
Individual rely more on peers/friends for securities, rise of alternative institutions like hospital, play 
school, multiplexes, media etc which are taking some functions of family. 
Societal perspective 
Page 3


 
 
9. Systems of Kinship: 
 
a. Family, household, marriage. 
b. Types and forms of family. 
c. Lineage and descent. 
d. Patriarchy and sexual division oflabour. 
e. Contemporary trends. 
 
FAMILY: 
Group in which both relations of affinity and consanguinity ( adoption) are found 
GP MURDOCH: elementary family was found everywhere (studied 250 societies) 
Characteristics: common residence, economic coordination, sexual reproduction, socially approved 
sexual relations b/w adults of both sexes, children born to adults or adopted 
Murdoch thought these characteristics are universal but blacks/nayars are exceptions. So his family 
is not universal. 
Anthony Giddens give simplified definition of family as a group of person directly linked by kin 
connection, adult members of which assume responsibility of caring of children. He emphasizes on 
criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of family.   
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
1) Conjugal or Companionate: deliberately avoid having kids. DINK (Double income no kids) 
2) Nuclear (children born out of monogamous) 
3) Compound (children – polygamous) 
4) Lineally extended (3 or more generations) 
5) Laterally extended (2 or more couples) 
6) Extended joint (Henry Maine coined this- property held jointly) 
Can also be based on – Descent ( patri, matri bilateral- ex nairs of Malabar and khasis of Meghalaya 
are matrilineal) , Residence ( Matri, patri , neo, duo local), authority (patriarchy, matriarchy, 
filiocentric), name ( patronymic, metronymic) , conjugal and consanguineal.  
 
Contemporary trends: 
T Parsons : Pre industrial society had extended family ( life expectancy short, need social support, 
labor intensive economy, simple skills required taught in family) 
Industrialization (specialized skills, less labour intensive, high social/geographical mobility, 
universalistic value against particularistic value of family) 
So nucleated family becomes structural fit in industrial society 
William Goode: achieved status/ individualism against familial norms/ role bargain (maintaining 
relations with important kins). So nuclear family becoming a culture. 
 
 
COUNTER VIEWS 
Elizabeth Roberts: Industrialization lead to growth in extended family due to help provided 
Wilmert and Young: Regular contacts with extended family by working/middle class, babysitting 
Colin Bell: physical distance overcome by internet, telephone and air travel (frequency less but 
quality more of contact). Modified or dispersed extended family- common residence might not be 
there but kinship ties are maintained. 
Bade Thorne: ‘cereal packet image’ i.e. problem of monolithic image of family; plurality of family 
forms 
 
New developments: 
Reconstituted Family (spouses live with children of previous as well as current marriage), single 
parent, live in, dual career (Mowrer), Rapaport ( single parent, homosexual, commune living, live in) 
Contemporary trends (overall) 
Marriage losing appeal, diversity in family forms growing, rising divorces/separation/ sanctity of 
marriage declining/law has made divorce easy/stigma of divorce vanishing 
Giddens: ‘Foreever love’ changing into ‘love till further notice’ (‘plastic love’)  
Frederic Leplay uses the term unstable for working class family. 
Contemporary trends (Indian) 
Marriage still imp, major event in life, caste active, class becoming imp as well, urban areas (live in), 
divorce rate, JF has sentimental value, girl choice is considered, elderly only ritual, filiocentric, 6 
pocket syndrome family. 
Functional Aspect of family 
G Murdock in his book ‘social structure’ 4 functions (economic, controls reproduction, regulate 
sexual relations , socialises children) 
T Parsons identifies two basic functions : 1) Primary socialization of children   2) stabilization of adult 
personality 
Ronald Fletcher talked about multifunctional family in which the basic function may exist and other 
functions are being reinvented 
Further functions can be divided as 
Individual perspective: physical security (childhood), emotional/psychological/economic security, 
legitimate means of sexual gratification, entertainment, gives readymade status, initial socialization. 
Changing trends: 
Individual rely more on peers/friends for securities, rise of alternative institutions like hospital, play 
school, multiplexes, media etc which are taking some functions of family. 
Societal perspective 
 
 
Reproduction (providing members to the society), cultural transmission (socialization and 
transmission of values but media/school etc are playing major roles now)  , mechanism of social 
control (now police/law etc), unit of economic production (readymade jobs but now focus on 
corporate jobs- Ronald Fletcher says that function of family has increased in this regard as family 
provides for making necessary provisions for training and choice of forces) 
 
Criticisms of family (Dysfunctions): 
1) Family is often accused to be status quoist. For ex Karl Marx argues that family assures 
conformity to the individual thereby submitting to the exploitation of haves. David Cooper in 
his book ‘death of family’ consider it as ideological conditioning device in exploitative society 
2) Family is accused of producing psychological disorders in children ex: RD Laing in his book 
‘politics of family’ studies schizophrenic children and concludes it is due to expectations of 
the parents 
3) Family produces emotional stress in the members leading to conflicts within family. Edmond 
Leach in his book ‘runaway world’ concludes that the members expect too much of each 
other. 
4) Family legitimizes the exploitation of the women. Ex household work done by them goes 
unnoticed and family legitimizes sexual abuse. 
5) Family legitimizes domestic violence as it is often ignored or even accepted ex Murray 
Strauss states Marriage licence is a hitting licence 
6) Family is used as neutralization device to justify deviant acts. Ex corruption 
7) It is argued family hampers creativity of individual when he submits his desires to family.  
 
 
Indian context: 
INDOLOGICAL 
JF has position of distinction 
David Mandelbaum : considers JF as one of 3 characteristics of Indian society (Caste System, Village) 
Henry Maine, O Mailey studied traditional indian JF and termed it as patriarchal family 
Irawati Karwe: one roof/kitchen/property/diety but different in Dravidian/tribals/lower caste and 
non hindu family. Idea is threatened by industrialization and urbanization 
 
MODERNIZATION 
Parsons/Goode 
IP Desai- Mahua, Guj        KM Kapadia: Half of family still joint      RP Mukherjee: Functionally joint 
 
HOUSEHOLD dimension: 
Page 4


 
 
9. Systems of Kinship: 
 
a. Family, household, marriage. 
b. Types and forms of family. 
c. Lineage and descent. 
d. Patriarchy and sexual division oflabour. 
e. Contemporary trends. 
 
FAMILY: 
Group in which both relations of affinity and consanguinity ( adoption) are found 
GP MURDOCH: elementary family was found everywhere (studied 250 societies) 
Characteristics: common residence, economic coordination, sexual reproduction, socially approved 
sexual relations b/w adults of both sexes, children born to adults or adopted 
Murdoch thought these characteristics are universal but blacks/nayars are exceptions. So his family 
is not universal. 
Anthony Giddens give simplified definition of family as a group of person directly linked by kin 
connection, adult members of which assume responsibility of caring of children. He emphasizes on 
criterion of commitment over and above traditional features of family.   
TYPES OF FAMILY: 
1) Conjugal or Companionate: deliberately avoid having kids. DINK (Double income no kids) 
2) Nuclear (children born out of monogamous) 
3) Compound (children – polygamous) 
4) Lineally extended (3 or more generations) 
5) Laterally extended (2 or more couples) 
6) Extended joint (Henry Maine coined this- property held jointly) 
Can also be based on – Descent ( patri, matri bilateral- ex nairs of Malabar and khasis of Meghalaya 
are matrilineal) , Residence ( Matri, patri , neo, duo local), authority (patriarchy, matriarchy, 
filiocentric), name ( patronymic, metronymic) , conjugal and consanguineal.  
 
Contemporary trends: 
T Parsons : Pre industrial society had extended family ( life expectancy short, need social support, 
labor intensive economy, simple skills required taught in family) 
Industrialization (specialized skills, less labour intensive, high social/geographical mobility, 
universalistic value against particularistic value of family) 
So nucleated family becomes structural fit in industrial society 
William Goode: achieved status/ individualism against familial norms/ role bargain (maintaining 
relations with important kins). So nuclear family becoming a culture. 
 
 
COUNTER VIEWS 
Elizabeth Roberts: Industrialization lead to growth in extended family due to help provided 
Wilmert and Young: Regular contacts with extended family by working/middle class, babysitting 
Colin Bell: physical distance overcome by internet, telephone and air travel (frequency less but 
quality more of contact). Modified or dispersed extended family- common residence might not be 
there but kinship ties are maintained. 
Bade Thorne: ‘cereal packet image’ i.e. problem of monolithic image of family; plurality of family 
forms 
 
New developments: 
Reconstituted Family (spouses live with children of previous as well as current marriage), single 
parent, live in, dual career (Mowrer), Rapaport ( single parent, homosexual, commune living, live in) 
Contemporary trends (overall) 
Marriage losing appeal, diversity in family forms growing, rising divorces/separation/ sanctity of 
marriage declining/law has made divorce easy/stigma of divorce vanishing 
Giddens: ‘Foreever love’ changing into ‘love till further notice’ (‘plastic love’)  
Frederic Leplay uses the term unstable for working class family. 
Contemporary trends (Indian) 
Marriage still imp, major event in life, caste active, class becoming imp as well, urban areas (live in), 
divorce rate, JF has sentimental value, girl choice is considered, elderly only ritual, filiocentric, 6 
pocket syndrome family. 
Functional Aspect of family 
G Murdock in his book ‘social structure’ 4 functions (economic, controls reproduction, regulate 
sexual relations , socialises children) 
T Parsons identifies two basic functions : 1) Primary socialization of children   2) stabilization of adult 
personality 
Ronald Fletcher talked about multifunctional family in which the basic function may exist and other 
functions are being reinvented 
Further functions can be divided as 
Individual perspective: physical security (childhood), emotional/psychological/economic security, 
legitimate means of sexual gratification, entertainment, gives readymade status, initial socialization. 
Changing trends: 
Individual rely more on peers/friends for securities, rise of alternative institutions like hospital, play 
school, multiplexes, media etc which are taking some functions of family. 
Societal perspective 
 
 
Reproduction (providing members to the society), cultural transmission (socialization and 
transmission of values but media/school etc are playing major roles now)  , mechanism of social 
control (now police/law etc), unit of economic production (readymade jobs but now focus on 
corporate jobs- Ronald Fletcher says that function of family has increased in this regard as family 
provides for making necessary provisions for training and choice of forces) 
 
Criticisms of family (Dysfunctions): 
1) Family is often accused to be status quoist. For ex Karl Marx argues that family assures 
conformity to the individual thereby submitting to the exploitation of haves. David Cooper in 
his book ‘death of family’ consider it as ideological conditioning device in exploitative society 
2) Family is accused of producing psychological disorders in children ex: RD Laing in his book 
‘politics of family’ studies schizophrenic children and concludes it is due to expectations of 
the parents 
3) Family produces emotional stress in the members leading to conflicts within family. Edmond 
Leach in his book ‘runaway world’ concludes that the members expect too much of each 
other. 
4) Family legitimizes the exploitation of the women. Ex household work done by them goes 
unnoticed and family legitimizes sexual abuse. 
5) Family legitimizes domestic violence as it is often ignored or even accepted ex Murray 
Strauss states Marriage licence is a hitting licence 
6) Family is used as neutralization device to justify deviant acts. Ex corruption 
7) It is argued family hampers creativity of individual when he submits his desires to family.  
 
 
Indian context: 
INDOLOGICAL 
JF has position of distinction 
David Mandelbaum : considers JF as one of 3 characteristics of Indian society (Caste System, Village) 
Henry Maine, O Mailey studied traditional indian JF and termed it as patriarchal family 
Irawati Karwe: one roof/kitchen/property/diety but different in Dravidian/tribals/lower caste and 
non hindu family. Idea is threatened by industrialization and urbanization 
 
MODERNIZATION 
Parsons/Goode 
IP Desai- Mahua, Guj        KM Kapadia: Half of family still joint      RP Mukherjee: Functionally joint 
 
HOUSEHOLD dimension: 
 
 
AM Shah: dimension of study should be household: Commensal/ coresident/ coparcenary/ co rituals 
(did field study). Two types of household 1) Simple 2) compound (2 or more parents) 
 Pauline Kolenda: Nuclear > JF, Avg size of household increasing (death rate less, life longetivity), 
Household have lifecycle (fission fusion fission), stem family (parents residing with married child), 
rural household size> urban size, regional difference (north india JF> south) 
Shah, Kolenda and others broke the myth of disintegration of JF in india.