Myth of Nuclear happiness

DISINTEGRATION OF JOINT FAMILY

During past years, there has been a shift in social structure from the joint family to the nuclear family. A nuclear family is a family structure that consists of a husband, wife and their unmarried children. It is different from the joint family system which lives together with all family members up to 2nd generation likes Grandparents, parents and their children. In the nuclear family, there is no interference of elders. Nuclear family -“Independent of Kin network” formed to meet the economy demand. There is time to time changes have been seen in the Family structure. Family life affected by the social, economic and political change because of increasing literacy & urbanization, people from villages & small towns start migrating to big cities in search of better career opportunities. Urbanization is the process of development of the city and a gradual increase in the proportion of people over land. Urbanization is also responsible for structural changes in the societal organization, the role of family, demographic structure and the nature of work. It gives rise to a new way of living and directly affects the traditional family function.  

The joint family was more united and happy because the family members take care of each other. It forms of cultural uniformity and traditional pattern of beliefs. In a joint family all members equally sharing all expenses, work and responsibilities so the burden is not with one family member.  In such families, the eldest male member is the head of the family. He is responsible for economic and social decisions of the family. Joint families are good for structuring society and culture. Children of the joint family had the freedom to play outside the house because in a joint family there are members to take care of them and it also gives better education and learning from experiences of grandparents. The parents in a family take care of grandparents. That practice of Joint family helped in the overall development of their psychological and physical conditions.

CAUSES OF DISINTEGRATION OF JOINT FAMILY: The joint family system in India has been disintegrated due to several factors. The Chicago school wrote about the disintegrating forces of urbanization of the family which replaced the support structure of the old kinship network. The process of migration, Change in social legislation, high cost of urban housing and change in the lifestyle of family members are some of the causes of the disintegration of joint family.

Industrialization:  In earlier times the main occupation of people was agriculture and cottage industries. Due to the impact of industrialization, it’s no longer necessary to carry on their family occupation, people shifting from primary occupation (agriculture) to secondary and tertiary sector. So a large number of people start migrating from villages to cities in order to get employment etc.

Urbanization: Industrialization and development in transport and communication lead to urbanization. People started moving to urban areas for better infrastructure, education, high standard of living, employment etc. It encourages the formation of a nuclear family. The role and of people and attitude towards the joint family has changed

Globalization:  Due to globalization the thinking of people influenced by the western culture of the nuclear family in search of freedom, privacy and accommodation for a happy and better living. So, young members of the family start adopting the concept of the nuclear family.

Development in means of transport and communication: In earlier time people face difficulties in moving from one place to another, but now development in transportation facility ease the movement of people. So people start migrating for the better lifestyle and basic facility, all these caused the disintegration of the joint family.

Education:  Children of the joint family also migrating for the sake of education. Education provides employment to the people in an urban area or other places than the native area. As of result of this, they are separated from their family and turns into a nuclear family. These changes are seen in both man and women.

In past years, women were engaged in the gender-specific job, including teaching and nursing etc. Education and jobs for women brought changes in their status, women now occupying all higher positions. The rise in women status and independency adversely affect the status of women and the joint family. Previously women play an important role in binding the members of the family but now educated and employed women seek for freedom. Now they don’t want to live in a traditional type of family. A rise in the female-headed household also brings changes in the structure of the family.

Social legislation: Social legislation impact the joint family system in Hindu legislation consisting of marriage act like Prohibition of early marriages by fixing the minimum age of marriage by the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 and Hindu Succession Act, 1956 which gives equal rights to women. Change in the marriage system diminished the parent’s role In marriage and also take a personal decision in the selection of a partner. Women and men now start looking for a relationship where they share all responsibility of household and child. The necessity of joint family has also reduced due to various governmental legislation relating to old-age pension, widow pension, etc.

The problem of Accommodation: Due to migration of people from rural to an urban area, they are facing the problem of accommodation because of urbanization and formation of nuclear family there is lack of adequate infrastructure and amenities The price and rent of a house in a city are a quite expensive and small house cannot accommodate the members of the joint family so the members of the family find difficulties in living together.

Family Conflict: Conflict between family members in the joint family regarding property, income, unequal distribution of work and personal clashes caused dissatisfaction among the members of the family and spoiled the happiness results in the breakdown of joint family.

IMPACT OF DISINTEGRATION OF JOINT FAMILY: The emergence of nuclear family results in shrinking of the size of family, change in relationship with family and redefines the concept of individual and social responsibility. Instead of all working member, the stress is on one member of the family. Nuclear family became isolated and began functioning as a separate household unit in urban society. Household size is decline due to urbanization according to the census data of countries. Now, an individual has to fend for himself and secure the future of the nuclear family. These family starts facing many difficulties and planning for retirement and medical emergencies become a priority.

Nuclear family results in divorce and separation which increase stress in the social relationship.  The divorce rate is increased from the previous year. Family breakdown affects each member of the family and can make a child have feelings of anger, resentment and confusion, which can alter the child's ability to form meaningful relationships. Children are isolated within the walls of their home and their activities are restricted to video/computer games. The disintegration of the joint family also affects the elders of the family who are abandoned by their children and nobody to look after them. Depression among the elders has been observed because of loneliness in a nuclear family.

There are advantages and disadvantages of both Nuclear and joint family. The nuclear family gives freedom while joint family gives happiness and support. Joint families are fast disintegrating due to the change in the culture of Indian Society. But the prevalence of joint family in India is still high. Now people try to maintain the joint family is not disintegrating in order to function as independent units (nuclear) but adapting to new patterns of family. The decrease in household size and Change in family system impact the urban planning of an area. Do you think planning should be according to the changing trend of the family system?