This article is related to the topic of features, characteristics, forms, and types of family…
Features / Characteristics of Family
The features of the family are also known as the characteristics of the family. It includes various points such as:-
1. Universality:
The family is a universal institution for some basic reasons:
(i) Family is found in every era and societies whether society is primitive or modern,
(ii) The family will continue to exist in the future,
(iii) There are two main reasons for the universality of family, (a) Through the family, the person fulfills its fundamentals requirements, (b) Apart from this, many other functions that are edited through the family itself.
2. Emotional Basis:
All the institutions in society have been formed on some basis. The family also has a fixed basis in the same way. On the basis on which the family is hinged, it is related to emotions, not much on the law.
Like a husband’s wife’s mental relation, mother’s arrangement of affection for children, help & protection, etc. There are many emotions on which the family is stable based on the emotions.
3. Creative Effect:
According to Aristotle, man is a social creature. Along with that, the family has been called the first school of child socialization. This implies that the influence of the family in the development of the personality of the child is highest.
There is a reason for the functional effect of the family like family members pay close attention to collective self-interests by not paying attention to personal interests.
4. Limited Size:
Family creatures are based on classical conditions. That’s why the family member can be the only person, (a) the person who was born in the family, (b) The person who has established a marital relationship with that family, (c) those who are connected to the family through other social relationships or blood relations.
Apart from all these, if we compare the family with other societies, it appears that its size is very limited and small.
5. Central Position in Social Structure:
According to the famous philosopher Aristotle of Yunnan, the community is just a tool of families. Social structure is created through many small institutions. All these institutions remain at different places in the structure of society.
The family is also such a social institution but the fundamental characteristic of this social institution is that its interest is in the social structure.
This is the reason that the importance of family is highest in comparison to other institutions.
6. Social Legislation:
Social control is the fundamental unit of a family. In each society, some specific types of rules are made keeping in mind the social welfare. Similar rules also occur in the family.
This base of control in the family is not based on law but based on human control. Family neglect is found in each family and each member obeys these neglections. In the same way, the control remains in the family.
Forms / Types of Family
Family is a universal institution, but according to the country, times, and circumstances, there is a difference in the nature of the family. Given the differences in family form’s, social scientists have tried to classify it.
In essence, the major different forms of a family can be divided into these parts:-
1. Based on the number and community of members.
2. On the basis of power, position, and lineage tradition.
3. On the basis of marriage.
1. Based on the number and community of members:
The first classification of the family is done on two bases. (a) In terms of the number of members, (b) From the point of family organization or community.
In keeping with these two aspects, social scientists have divided the family mainly into these three parts:-
(a) Personal Family:
A personal family is a form of family where the husband wife and children are involved. Like a personal family, it is obvious from its name that tells ‘one person’s family’.
The marriage family can briefly be called the union of both families. This type of family is found in Europe and other western countries. As a family related to marriage, it is clear from its name that some members of the two families who are engaged in marriage relations in this family are involved.
(c) Joint Family:
A joint family is a mixed form of many families. There are many individual families involved in this. Most examples of joint families in Indian rural life are found.
2. On the basis of power, position, and lineage tradition:
Based on the second classification of families, scholars have mainly comprised three elements- (a) Centralization of post or power, (b) Importance of place, (c) The basis of lineage, traditions, or lineage name.
By keeping these three approaches in front, families can be divided into two parts:-
(a) Matrilineal Family:
This is the nature of the family in which the full power of the family is in the hands of the mother or wife. The family lineage of these families runs in the name of the mother and the succession of property is transferred from mother to daughter.
In essence, it is a family in which economic, social, religious, political, and other types of power are not in the hands of the husband, in the hands of the wife.
(b) Patriarchal Family:
In the modern era, patriarchal families are found in all societies called civilized. Patriarchal families are inverted condition of maternal families. In these families, the family tradition runs in the name of a man.
After marriage, the wife has to stay in the husband’s house. The entire power of the family is in the hands of a man. The successor of the family is also a male.
3. On the basis of marriage:
On the basis of marriage, it has been proven that the family is also a committee and an institution too. This is a committee which is formed on the basis of marital bondage. In each society, there are different bases in the marital bond.
When the marriages are of different types, the result will be that the family will also be of different types. By keeping this view, families can be divided into these parts on the basis of marriage-
(a) Single Marriage Family:
In this type of family, the man is given the right to marry only one woman. If we look at social upheaval, it seems that such a family is the result of modern civilization.
The present society is becoming extremely complex and stressful. To get rid of this tension and complexity, one marriage family is being chosen as the instrument.
(b) Multi Marriage Family:
They are the ones in which men or women marry more than one woman or men. The multi-family can be divided into two categories like:-
- Multi Husband Marriage Family.
- Multi Wife Marriage Family.
So, these were our features, characteristics, forms or types of family. I hope you liked it!
