Do you think that family bondings are being affected by the changing kinship patterns in India? Comment. (UPSC CSE Mains 2024 - Sociology, Paper 1)
The fabric of Indian family life is undergoing a profound transformation due to changing kinship patterns, driven by rapid socio-economic shifts. Urbanization, modernization, and globalization are reshaping traditional familial structures and relationships that have long been the cornerstone of Indian society.
- Nuclearization of families:
• Move from joint to nuclear family structures, especially in urban areas
• Alters dynamics of intergenerational relationships
• Sociologist A.M. Shah noted this trend leading to more individualized family units
• Potentially reduces extended family interactions and traditional support mechanisms
- Urbanization and migration:
• Rural-urban migration physically separates family members
• Weakens traditional kinship ties
• Creates new forms of extended family networks in urban settings
• Leads to the emergence of “modified extended families” connected through technology
- Changing gender roles:
• Women’s increasing workforce participation reshapes traditional family roles
• Leads to more egalitarian relationships but challenges work-family balance
• Impacts intergenerational relationships, as noted by I.P. Desai
• Influences child-rearing practices and elderly care arrangements
- Functionalist perspective:
• Talcott Parsons argues nuclear families suit industrial societies
• May lead to reduced interaction with extended kin
• Emphasizes the adaptation of family structures to changing societal needs
Examples:
• Rise of nuclear households in cities
• Elderly parents living alone or in care homes
• Changes in marriage practices (intercaste, love marriages)
• Increasing acceptance of live-in relationships, especially in urban areas
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