MODERN NUCLEAR FAMILY

Though India is often known as classical land of joint families, at present, the number of nuclear
families is on the increase, while joint families are slowly decreasing.

Nuclear family is a “small group composed of husband and wife and immature children which
constitutes a unit apart from the rest of the community”.

Nuclear family is a small family. Soon after their marriage, the husband and wife leave their
parental homes and establish their separate household.

The main features of nuclear family are:

1. Modern nuclear family is very small in size.

2. The members of the family have greater freedom and independence. Nuclear family is
more of egalitarian.
3. Women are now a partner in family affairs. She is equal and husband cannot command
but suggest.
4. The rigid marital and social relationships no longer characterize the nuclear family.
5. Modern nuclear families perform only essential functions, whereas all non-essential
functions are performed by other agencies such as hospitals, schools, clubs and so on.

NATURE OF INDIAN NUCLEAR FAMILY:-

No all India study has been held so far to study the exact nature and character of Indian family.
In the absence of such a study it is difficult to say in exact words about the nature of nuclear
family which is in the transitional stage. In spite of such a handicap, sociologists has made
several studies and expressed their and observations made about the Indian nuclear family.

1. Ram Ahuja, M.S.Gore, A.M.Shah, Ramakrishna Mukerjee has made observation and
have come out with the view point that the number of nuclear families has been
increasing during recent decades. This increase is more intense in the urban areas than in
rural areas.
2. Element of “functional jointness”:
In Indian context nuclear families are mostly dependent nuclear family. These families
directly or indirectly connected with the original joint family and in times of need, crisis
or hardship, obtain all the support from it. They maintain their connection with the
original family and on occasion render their help also. They are dependent nuclear family
in the sense that they still “depend” on the joint family and maintain what is known as
functional jointness with it.
3. Trend towards transitional or nuclear family:
Due to urbanization, rapid industrialization, increase in literacy level, there is a greater
trend towards nuclear family. The changes from traditional to nuclear or transitional
 family include trend such as equality of individual, establishing of separate family, equal
status to women, functional jointness.
4. Changing inter personal relation inside the family:
Nuclear family which are getting established due to the disintegration of joint family are
actually the “conjugal family”. Such families give importance to the marital relationship
between husband and wife. Husband and wife relations are normally established on
equalitarian basis. Children are given more freedom and the interference of kinsmen is
quite less. In these families, individual are given much freedom in pursuing education,
getting into jobs of one’s interest and selecting life partners of one’s choice. Success of
such conjugal families depends much on the nature of understanding and adjustment
between husband and wife.
5. Cultural values supporting functional jointness:
Most of the studies have revealed that families in India are changing. But this changing
process they have neither remained as “full -fledged joint family” nor emerged out as
“full -fledged nuclear families”. They are in a transitional stage. Though a number of
families exhibit a tendency to move towards nuclear families they seem to continue the
character of functional jointness.
The character of functional jointness is still found due to the cultural values such as
respect towards parents, religiosity, commitment towards kinsmen etc. which have been
still associated with the family so long it is likely to maintain this character of functional
jointness.

It could thus be concluded that though nuclear families are increasing in number in India, they
are not emulating the model of the western nuclear family. They continue to maintain their
connection with the original joint family. Though joint families are slowing decreasing in
number, there is no immediate threat for their survival.