Unit V: FAMILY:

•Family is a primary and the most basic form of group in society.

•A family is a group of people having blood or marriage relationship living together
under same roof .

• It ordinarily consists of father, mother, one or more children and sometimes near
or distant relatives.
Definitions:
“Family is a group defined by sex relationship sufficiently precise and
enduring to provide for the procreation and upbringing of children” .
-- MacIver
“ A family is a social and economic unit consisting minimally of one or more
parents and their children. Members of a family always have certain reciprocal
rights and obligations, particularly economic ones. Family members usually
live in one household, but common residence is not a defining feature of
families”. --Ember and Ember
Characteristics of Family:

1. Universality:

• Family is universal

• There is no human society in which some forms of family do not appear. It

is found in each and every part of the human world.

2. Emotional Basis:

• Family is based on emotional basis.

• It is based on the impulses of mating, procreation, maternal devotion,

fraternal love and parental care.
3. Limited Size:

• A family is, normally, smaller in size.

 • If the size of the family increase , then it forms another family.
4. Formative influence:

• Family is the first place where a child starts its process of socialization.

• It shapes and moulds the personality of its members.

5. Nuclear Position in the social structure:

• The family is the nucleus of the social structure.

• The whole social structure is built of family units.

6. Responsibility of the members:

• The members of the family has certain responsibilities, duties and obligations.

• The peace and prosperity of the family depends upon the coordination of its
members.
7. Family is an outcome of marriage:

• A family is an outcome of marriage.

• It is through marriage people from a distinct societies and culture are bought
into a single family for living as a husband and wife.
10. A common residence:

• Members of the family generally share for a common residence and a kitchen.

• Family is responsible to make provision of residence to its members.

Functions of Family:
a) Primary function:

1. The family regulates the sexual behavior of an individual.

2. Family is the legitimate institution for the reproduction of children.

3. Rearing and socialization of children is done by family.

4. The provision of home is fulfilled by family.

5. Family serves as a means of cultural transmission.

6. Family assigns social status to an individual and hence, family is the source
of societal identification.
7. Family is an institution which provides mental or the emotional satisfaction
and security to its individual members.
It also provides social approval to legitimate child and their bearing and
rearing.
8. A matting relationship:

• A matting relationship of male and female is found in family.

• The relationship between husband and wife remains almost permanent in

family
9. A system of nomenclature:

• Children after their birth are given their surname on the basis of descent
relationship either father line or mother line or bilateral.

• It means nomenclature ritual also depends upon the structure of family.

b) Secondary function:

1. Economic function:
 • Family has had economic system along with its specific social custom.

• Members of the family distribute and divide work among themselves and
perform them.
10. A common residence:

• Members of the family generally share for a common residence and a kitchen.

• Family is responsible to make provision of residence to its members.

Functions of Family:
a) Primary function:

1. The family regulates the sexual behavior of an individual.

2. Family is the legitimate institution for the reproduction of children.

3. Rearing and socialization of children is done by family.

4. The provision of home is fulfilled by family.

5. Family serves as a means of cultural transmission.

6. Family assigns social status to an individual and hence, family is the source
of societal identification.
7. Family is an institution which provides mental or the emotional satisfaction
and security to its individual members.
b) Secondary function:

1. Economic function:

• Family has had economic system along with its specific social custom.

• Members of the family distribute and divide work among themselves and
 perform them.

• In modern society, we also find husband and wife working outside the
family to get more income and to raise their economic status.

• In sum, family fulfils the economic needs of its members as a whole.

2. Educational function:

• Family is the primary institutions and first school to the children.

• It is the first place where a child starts his/her basic learning. The family
creates the basis for the child’s formal learning.

3. Religious functions:

• The family is a center for the religious training of the children. The children
learn from their parents various religious lessons through various ceremonies
and festivals.

• The family used to teach the children the religious values, moral precepts,
ways of worshipping God, etc.
4. Recreational functions:

• Recreation is very important for the physical and psychological well-being of

human being.

• The recreational activities or festivals also help to develop fraternity and unity
among the family members, relatives.

• Visiting relatives, family reunions, singing, dancing, playing indoor games,

feast and festivals, ceremonies etc. are the various forms of recreational
 activities for the family members.
Types of family:

i. On the basis of size

ii. On the basis of authority

i. On the basis of size:

1. Joint Family

2. Nuclear Family
1. Joint Family:

• It normally consists of members who belong to more than two

generation: husband and wife, their married and unmarried children and
their married and unmarried grand children. This family is based on blood
ties.

• The family members lives together; contribute to the economic well being
of the household and share housekeeping and child rearing
responsibilities.

• Most of the traditional Nepalese family used to be joint family.

• Eg. The Dhimal family

2. Nuclear Family:

• It generally includes a husband, a wife and their dependent children or

unmarried children.

• The children after marriage leave their parental home and establish their
separate family.

• The American and British family is a typical example of the modern

 independent single family.

• Due to industrialization, urbanization, increasing individualism etc, nuclear

family system is increasing day by day.

ii. On the basis of authority:

1. Matriarchal Family

2. Patriarchal Family
1. Matriarchal Family:

• It is known as the mother-centered or mother dominated family.

• The mother or the woman is the head of the family and she exercises
authority.

• She is the owner of the property and the manager of the household and all the
other members are her subordinates.

• Eg. Eskimo tribe and Khasi Tirbe ( India).

2. Patriarchal Family:

• It is known as father-centered or father dominated family.

• The father or the eldest man is the head of the family and he exercise
authority.

• He is the owner and administrator of the property.

• He gives the final decision on all family matters.

Changing functions of family:

 1. The sexual regulation function of family has not changed much. But the
trend of pre-marital and extra marital sex relations are increasing day by
day.

2. The reproductive function of family has also suffered in recent years,

particularly, in western societies. Parents no longer desire for more
children and absence of children has been an important feature of western
societies.

3. The parental and the educational functions of the family have been shifted
to certain external agencies like child care centers, baby clinics, nurseries,
kinder-garden etc.

4. Protective function of family has been declined slowly day by day.

Physically handicapped, mentally retarded, aged, unhealthy children are take
care by many other organizations instead in family.
5. The economic function of the family has been disturbed a great deal. Now
Family is not self sufficient unit and the members of the family no longer
united by shared work. They work separately in different places. Now, family
is a unit of consumption rather than a unit of production.
6. Socialization and personality development function is also weakening in
family. children learn more outside of family through different kinds of
personality development programs.

7.The status ascription function has been weakened in modern society and
greater emphasis on achieved status.
8.The recreational function of the family is losing importance. External
agencies have taken away this function. Movies, dance halls, night clubs,
gambling centers, television, email-internet, etc. have come into being .

Unit V- Marriage

•Marriage is one of the fundamental social institutions.

•Basically, marriage emerged as a social institution to control and regulate the
sexual life of human beings.

•Marriage forms another social institution family. So, marriage and family are
complementary to each other.

•Marriage is a socially approved arrangement between a male and a female that

involves an economic and a sexual relationship.

•Marriage is a group’s approved mating arrangement , usually marked by a ritual of

some sort ( the wedding) to indicate the couple’s new public status.

•“ Marriage is a socially approved sexual and economic union between a man and a
woman that is presumed to be more or less permanent, and that subsumes
reciprocal rights and obligations between two spouses and between the spouses and
their children”.
-- Ember and Ember

“ Marriage is a contract for the production and maintenance of the children”.

-- Malinowski
Characteristics of Marriage:

i. Universality:

• Marriage is a universal institution i.e it is found in every societies. It is

enforced as a social rule in many societies.
ii. It is the relationship between a man and a woman:

• Marriage is the union of man and woman.

• It may include the relationship between one or more men to one or more
women. The number of men or women depends upon the situation or the
culture of the society.

iii. Marriage bond is enduring:

 • Generally, marriage is a long lasting bond between husband and wife.

• Besides some accidental divorce, it is a permanent relationship.

• According to the Hindu religion, it is considered as a sacred bond between the

husband and wife which even the death can break.
iv. Marriage requires social approval:

• The union of man and woman is said to be marriage only when it is approved
by the society.

v. Marriage is associated with some civil or religious ceremony:

• Marriage is publicly conducted with some kind of ceremony.

• Ceremony of each society may have its own rites, rituals, customs, formalities
etc.

• Marriage gets its social recognition through ceremony.

vi. Marriage creates mutual obligations:

• Marriage imposes certain rights and duties on both duties on both the husband
and wife.

• Both of them are required to cooperate each other and they also have their
responsibility to take care of their children.
Functions/ Importance of Marriage:

i. Regulation of sex life

ii. Marriage leads to the establishment of the family.

iii. It provides an opportunity for economic cooperation.

iv. Marriage brings the life partners together and helps them to develop
intense love and affection towards each other .
 v. Marriage aims at social solidarity.
Types of Marriage:
Marriage can be divided into various types on following basis:

i. On the basis of the number of spouses

ii. On the basis of marriage restriction/ rules of marriage

iii. On the basis of process of marriage

i. On the basis of the number of spouses:

1) Monogamy

2) Polygamy
1) Monogamy:

• It is the form of marriage in which one man marries one woman at a time.

• It is the most widespread form of marriage found in every society.

Advantages of monogamy marriage:

• It is economical than other forms of marriage.

• It promotes better understanding between husband and wife.

• It contributes to stable family and sex life.

• It helps for better socialization of the children.

• The aged women are not neglected in monogamy marriage and the women
 occupies better status.
2) Polygamy:

• It is the form of marriage which has multiple mates at a given time.

• It is further divided into following categories:
a. Polygyny
b. Polyandry
c. Group Marriage
a. Polygyny:

• It is the form of marriage in which one man marries more than one woman at
a given time.

• It is practiced in Muslim community, Eskimo tribes, African Negros etc.

• The law of Nepal has prohibited polygyny marriage and the society
disrespects the person having multiple wives.

• Previously, the royal family, aristocrats and the feudal used to have polygyny
marriage.

• Nowadays, a married man can marry to another women only if his wife is
infertile, physically disabled, had sexual relationship with other persons or
demanded divorce.
b. Polyandry:

• It is the form of marriage in which a woman marries several men.

• It is practiced among the Sherpa, Tibetans, Bahama of Africa etc.

• Scarcity of women, keeping property intact, poverty, sterility of men etc. are
the responsible factors of polyandry.
 • Polyandry is of two types:
i) Fraternal Polyandry: several brothers sharing the same wife.
ii) Non-fraternal Polyandry: the husbands sharing the same wife are not
brothers or any other close relatives.
c. Group marriage:

• The form of marriage in which two or more men marry with two or more
women.

• Here, all the husbands are common husbands and all the wives are common
wives.

• The children are regarded as the children of the entire group.

• This type of marriage is practically rare and some of the writers have said that
there is no existence of such marriage. It is just the theoretical concept as one
of the form of marriage.
ii. On the basis of marriage restriction/ rules of marriage:

• The individuals of the society are not free to choose their mates.

• There is some kind of social restriction or rules of marriage.

• The types of marriage on the basis of marriage restriction or rules of marriage

are as follows:

1) Endogamy

2) Exogamy

1) Endogamy:

• The form of marriage in which the mate is selected within the group(
 caste, class, tribe, village, religion etc.).
2) Exogamy:

• The form of marriage in which the mate is selected outside the group (
caste, class, tribe, village, religion etc.).

iii. On the basis of process of marriage:

1) Arrange marriage:

• It is the form of marriage which is arranged ( i.e the mates are selected) by
the families or the close relatives.
2) Love marriage:

• It is the modern form of marriage in which an individual selects the life-

partner himself/herself.

• First , they fall in love and later on, gets married.

3) Court marriage:

• A marriage in which agreement between partners is registered in court and

concerned authorities of the court provide the marriage certificate to the
bride and bridegroom.
Some other forms of marriage:
1) Cross cousin marriage:
It is the form of marriage in which there is marriage between cross cousin. It
is mostly practiced among Tamangs, Gurungs etc.
2) Hypergamy marriage:
It is the form of marriage in which a higher caste man marry with a lower
caste woman.
3) Hypogamy:
It is the form of marriage in which a lower caste man marry with a higher
caste woman.
4) Sorrate Marriage:
• It is the form of the marriage in which a man marries his sister in law ( wife’s
sister) after the death of his wife.
5) Levirate Marriage:

• It is the form of the marriage in which a man marries his brother’s wife after
the death of his brother.
Changing pattern of marriage in Nepalese society:

1. Changes in the types of marriage i.e. polygamy to monogamy.

2. Changes in the pattern of mate selection. There has been an increasing

trend of selecting the mate personally, rather than by their parents and
relatives.

3. There is decrease in the religious control of marriage. Although it is

attended by religious rite, it has been regarded as the civil contract. The
purpose of marriage is not to achieve the religious goal but to have life
long companionship.

4. There is increase in the delayed marriage pattern. Early or child marriage

are rarely observed. People use to get married only after being independent.
5. There has been increase in the divorce rate of the married couple.
6. There has been increasing trend of cohabitation leading to marriage.

Factors effecting Marriage:

1. Industrialization

2. Organization

3. Legislation

4. Education
1. Industrialization:

• It has weakened the traditional occupation of the people. People are out of
 home or locality for work.

• Domination of religious ideology has declined

• Rules of marriage are no longer determined by the religious values. Now,

personal relations, financial status of the marrying partners, co-working etc
determine the marriage.

• Employed women today take an active role in the selection of their life
partners.

2. Organization:

• Previously , marriage was regulated by traditional social and religious

organizations (such as family, relatives, priests, temple/church etc.).

• Various process of marriage like mate selection , rituals , ceremonies etc were
influenced by these organizations or people leading them.

• Now , the role has changed and it is conducted by other organization such as
Marriage Bureau.
3. Legislation:

• The law has also effected the system of marriage.

• Restriction of polygyny, early marriage, forced marriage etc

• System of court marriage.

4. Education:

• Increased awareness among the people.

• Changed the people’s attitude , belief and perception on mate selection.

• Few educated people also reject the dowry and reject to perform traditional
ritual ceremonies also.

• Late marriage after being independent.

 Unit V: Political System

•Politics is defined as the process through power and influence are used in the
promotion of certain values and interests.

•It is so powerful and influential that it effects/regulates every aspects of the

society.

•It is a complex system involving who should hold the authority and what would be
the government’s influence on the people.
Types of Political System:
● Basically, there are two types of political system
1. Democracy
2. Totalitarianism

3. Democracy:
● It is derived from two Greek words, “demos” which means people and
“kratia” which means the power. So, literally, democracy means the form
of government in which the power is vested is vested in the people.
● It is considered as the best and most civilized form of political system.

Definitions of democracy:

● “ Democracy is the rule of the people by the people for the people”. –
Abraham Lincoln

● “Democracy is the form of government in which the mass of the population

possesses the right to share in the exercise of sovereign power”. -Gettell

● Democracy can be defined as the system of governance by the representatives

of people (elected from a certain electorate), whose authority is based on
limited mandate and people exercise some rights to political participation and
 opposition.
Basic Features/Principles of Democracy:
● It guarantees all individuals the right to speak, criticize and disagree with
others.
● It allows people to have diverse views, ideas and ideologies.
● It believes in the peaceful method of persuasion, not the use of the threat of
power.
● People can exercise fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, peaceful
assembly, press freedom, contesting in the election or electing their
representatives, constitutional remedies etc.
● The sovereignty rests with in the people.
● It is built on the foundations of liberty, equality and fraternity.

● It is the rule of the majority but it also saves the right of minority.
● It functions strictly according to the constitution.
Forms of Democracy:

I. Direct Democracy

II. Indirect Democracy or Representative Democracy

I. Direct Democracy:
● It is the form of democracy in which all the citizens are active and they
directly participate in making the public policy definitions.
● Realistically, such type of political system do not exist in the complex
modern world.
● Eg. It is practiced in some cantons of Switzerland.
● Indirect Democracy or Representative Democracy:
● The form of democracy in which the citizens periodically elect the
persons who represent them in all the political process and make policy
decisions on their behalf.
● It is the most widely practiced form of political system.
2. Totalitarianism or Dictatorship:
● It is the political system that is opposite to the democracy.
● It can be defined as the system in which total power is vested in an
individual or a party.
● It is also called as dictatorship. Here, the ruler monopolize the state’s
power and exercise it without any constraints. The ruler orders and rules
as he/she wishes.
● For eg. Former monarchy of Nepal, Communist dictatorship in China and
North Korea, Military Dictatorship in Myanmar, Iran, former Taliban rule
Afganisthan etc.
Basic features of Totalitarian or Dictatorship:
i. Totalitarian Power:

● The government assumes complete power and control all aspects of an

individual’s life.
ii. One man or One Party rule:

● A single person or a party has the supreme authority and rules the whole state
without any opposition. If there is any opposition , it is crushed down.

● The ruler is not responsible toward the public.

iii. There is no political liberty. People can not elect their representative, they can
not criticize the system and lacks the other civil rights.

iv. The ruler adopts violent and coercive methods to suppress the opposition.
v. It glorifies the state and builds aggressive nationalism. State is considered as
the ends and people just as the means.
vii. There is no existence of independent press.
Welfare State:

● The forms of political system, either communist system or democratic system

are extremist in nature.

● The communist system ensures the equality and fulfill needs of the people but
 lacks freedom and rights of the people. On the other hand, liberal democracy
ensures the freedom and right of the people but does not guarantee the
equality and basic needs of the people.

● So, the concept of welfare state is gaining popularity these days.

● Every state claim to be welfare state. But welfare state has some criteria and
every state has to meet these criteria to be welfare state.

● Welfare state puts people welfare at the centre of the state’s concern. It
regards state as the agency of social service, rather than the instrument of
power. It is tilted more towards socialism.
● For eg. Norway, Sweden, Denmark etc.
Basic features of Welfare state:

i. It ensures people’s freedom and rights as well as the basic needs of the
people.

ii. It collects tax from the richer people and provides social services to the
poor.

iii. There is provision of free education for the needy people.

iv. There is provision of free health facilities for the needy.

v. A large portion of budget is spend for the social service.
vi. There is special provisions for the protection of old, children, poor and
handicapped people.
vii. The state maintains peace, order and social harmony.
viii. It ensures justice to all categories of people.
ix. There is proper arrangement for the recreation of the people.

Education:

● The term is derived from the Latin word “educare” which means “ to bring
up”.

● It is the process of providing training and instruction to give knowledge in a

particular field and develop skills.
 ● However, the idea of education is not only to impart knowledge to the pupils
in some subjects but to develop in him/her those habits and attitude with
which he/she may successfully face the future.

Education as a social process:

● Education is viewed as a socialization. It is the process through which an

individual learns the ways of behavior of a society.

● Education is viewed as an agent of cultural transmission. It is through the

education that the cultural elements of a group is transmitted to its younger
generation.

● Education is the process of acquiring knowledge in a particular subject and

developing the skill in a particular sector.

Social functions of education:

● Some of the major social functions of education are as follows:

i. It helps to complete the socialization process.

ii. It helps in the transmission of cultural elements.

iii. It helps in the formation of social personality.

iv. It helps in the reformation of attitude.

v. It helps for the occupational placement.

vi. It provides status to an individual.

vii. It encourages the spirit of competition.

Functionalist view of education:

● Education provides knowledge and skill to the students so that the society’s
needs of man power are fulfilled.
● School transfers society’s core cultural values from one generation to another.
The school curriculum in the socialist countries stress the values of socialism
while the schools in the capitalist society teaches the value that supports the
capitalism.

● School also brings about social integration. They promote a sense of national
identity by having students salute the flag and sing the national anthem.

● It facilitates in the process of social placement. Based on their merit, people

are placed at different categories of jobs.

The conflict view on education:

● The conflict view on education argues that education reproduces the social
class structure. It promotes the social division of society and helps the
member of the elite group to maintain their dominance.

i. The school teaches students to be obedient for the authority and conform
to the mainstream norms. Hence, it results the students to accept the status
quo.

ii. There are different categories of school for different classes. Expensive
private schools for the richer people and cheap community schools for the
poorer people. So, there is inequality and the poor students can not get
quality education which results in the continuity of unequal class
structure.

iii. Poor students do not have access to better education. They can not study
expensive course like medical, engineering etc and hence, remain in the same
status.
iv. Functionalist argue they sort the students on the basis of merit but the conflict
theorists argue that sorting is done on the basis of class or ethnic line.