Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Family from Class 9 Social_Science. In this chapter, we will explore the meaning of family, the relationships among its members, and the stages in the development of an individual. The system of family is strongly rooted in India. Relationship among the members of family is an ancient traditional arrangement. Family is a unit of society. It is like a living cell. The community develops from a family, leading to the creation of a nation. The family rests on the support of emotional pillars. The mother’s love, the father’s affection, understanding between the husband and wife, the desire to beget children and nurture them act as the pillars supporting the family. In the contemporary Indian family, the parents discuss with their children before taking decisions. Whether it is a matter of purchasing some material, giving a gift or matter related to discipline in children, or income and expenditure of the family, the mother’s role is important. The mother enjoys equal rights in all responsible decisions taken. [CHECKPOINT]
Now let us look at the features of a family. Family is universal, it is a social system seen in all times and all countries. It is the core of society. It is from the family that neighbourhoods, villages, cities and nations have evolved. Right from their childhood, the members of the family not only realise their social responsibilities but also understand co-operation. The social traditions, morality and behaviour are all controlled by the family. Thus the family is called a universal, permanent and traditional structure. Let us understand the relationships. Mother, father, husband, wife and children are connected through marriage. Marriage is a universal and a sacred social institution. It creates mutual rights and responsibilities between father, mother, husband, wife and children. According to the Indian tradition, taking care of the wife and children is the responsibility and duty of the husband. Looking after children and educating them are the duties of the parents. Caring the elderly is culturally rooted in the families. [CHECKPOINT]
Next, we will learn about childhood and youth. Childhood and youth occupy an important place in the social development of an individual. Not only does the child learn the mother tongue but also the fundamental social tenets. A child growing in a familial and social atmosphere develops related characteristics and gains friendly relations with other children of the same age. By mingling with others, the child develops leadership qualities, social behaviour, his or her requirements and restrictions that influences a child resulting in the formation of healthy social relationships. Later in youth, it leads to friendship, independence, security and social acceptance. The behaviour and habits developed in the youth continue in the adult and old ages. Now let us discuss families and generations. The unit of family rests on the support of many several generations. It has many blood relatives belonging to different generations. This phenomenon is seen in all societies. Grandparents belong to the first generation, parents to the second and children to the third generation. [CHECKPOINT]
Based on the members of different generations present in a family, families are classified as mentioned below. First, a family consisting of parents and children. This is called Nuclear or Divided family, which has a minimum of two generations. Second, a family consisting of father, mother, children and grandchildren is called a Joint or Undivided family, which has a minimum of three to four generations. Families are also classified based on different principles. Based on authority, a family can be classified as Patriarchal or Matriarchal. Based on size, it can be classified as Undivided or Divided family. Let us define the first type. A family in which the father is the head and has all assets in his name is called a Patriarchal family. This type of family system was prevalent in ancient India, China, Rome, Egypt and other countries and is in existence even today. [CHECKPOINT]
The second type is the Matriarchal family. A family in which the mother is the head having all property and assets in her name is called Matriarchal family. The Nair community of Malabar in Kerala state and tribal communities in the north eastern states of India have this system. The third type is the Modern nuclear family. Based on the structure of the family and the number of generations present in it, a family is classified as either Divided or Undivided family. A family having husband, wife and their unmarried children is called a modern nuclear family. This type is also called Primary family, Individual family or Divided family. This familial system is prevalent in the present society. Privacy, personal happiness, self contentment, property rights, changing social values, geographical and social structure, advances in science and technology, industrialisation, urbanisation, principles of democracy and equality, decline of religious faith and thinking, spread of materialistic attitude, freedom of women have become responsible for the increase in the number of this type of family. [CHECKPOINT]
The main features seen in the modern family are modernity, complexity, small size, loose social control, and enhanced freedom of members. Now let us move on to the Undivided family. In an undivided family, there will be people of more than two generations consisting of parents, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Normally it is a group of people living under one roof, eating food prepared in one kitchen, having equal rights to the property, engaging in same type of worship and having specific blood relatives. Let us examine the features of a Joint family in detail. First is Large size. Blood relatives live permanently in the same house. The size of the family is big. Second is Property. All the members of the family are owners of the property. Utilisation of the property is done in a harmonious manner. An undivided family runs on the basis of interpersonal co-operation of all the members. Its head acts as a religious head. It is only with the permission of all the members that any sale or transfer of property is done. [CHECKPOINT]
Third is Residence. All the members of the family normally live under the same roof. Even when one son has a family of his own with a wife and children, he continues the earlier relationship with the core family. The new family is considered a part of the undivided family. Fourth is Kitchen. The members of an undivided family usually prepare the food in the same kitchen and consume it together. Fifth is Religion. Normally all the members of an undivided family follow the same religion. They worship the same gods. Rites and rituals, daily worship form a part of the daily routine of such families. Sixth is Self reliant. An undivided family is mostly self dependent. It encompasses the lives of its members completely. It fulfills the majority of their needs. All members share the household chores. The work is divided according to the effort needed to do the job, the member’s age and gender. Seventh is Structure of authority. The oldest member of the undivided family has the authority to take decisions. Even when he transfers it, the policy of seniority in age is followed. [CHECKPOINT]
I would like you to try a small activity on your own. Trace your older generations from the time of your great grandfather till today, and with the help of your elders, draw a family tree. This will help you visualise the generations we just discussed. Now, let us address the activities mentioned in your textbook. First, talk to your father and learn about the number of members, both male and female, in the undivided family of your grandfather. Also get to know the duties and responsibilities of your grandfather. Second, due to the increase of nuclear families the seniors of the family are neglected. Hence the number of old age homes are increasing and the elders have to live an orphaned life therefore it is advisable to follow the ideals of joint family. You should list out the values of undivided families, such as mutual support, shared responsibilities, emotional security, respect for elders, and preservation of cultural traditions. [CHECKPOINT]
Now we will go through the exercises to ensure you are fully prepared for your exams. Let us start with the fill in the blanks section. Question one. The living cell of the society is Family. Question two. When the father is the head of the family, that family is called Patriarchal family. Question three. Nairs of Malabar in Kerala is an example of Matriarchal family. Now let us answer the descriptive questions. Question four asks, the family is a unit of society. How? The answer is that family is the core of society. It is from the family that neighbourhoods, villages, cities and nations have evolved. Right from childhood, members realise their social responsibilities and understand co-operation. Social traditions, morality and behaviour are all controlled by the family, making it a universal, permanent and traditional structure. [CHECKPOINT]
Question five asks, name the different kinds of families. Based on generations, families are classified as Nuclear or Divided family, and Joint or Undivided family. Based on authority, they are classified as Patriarchal and Matriarchal families. Based on size, they are classified as Undivided or Divided family. Question six asks, what do you mean by Undivided Family? An undivided family consists of people of more than two generations including parents, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is a group of people living under one roof, eating food prepared in one kitchen, having equal rights to the property, engaging in same type of worship and having specific blood relatives. Question seven asks, what is meant by Nuclear Family? A family having husband, wife and their unmarried children is called a modern nuclear family. It is also known as Primary family, Individual family or Divided family, and typically contains a minimum of two generations. [CHECKPOINT]
Question eight asks, what are the features of a family? Family is universal, seen in all times and all countries. It is the core of society from which larger communities evolve. Members realise social responsibilities and learn co-operation from childhood. Social traditions, morality and behaviour are all controlled by the family. It is a universal, permanent and traditional structure. Question nine asks, mention the role of childhood and youth in the social developmental stages of an individual. In childhood, individuals learn their mother tongue and fundamental social tenets. They develop characteristics, gain friendly relations with peers, and develop leadership qualities and social behaviour. In youth, these experiences lead to friendship, independence, security and social acceptance. The habits formed during youth continue into adult and old ages. [CHECKPOINT]
Question ten asks, explain the features of an undivided family. The features are large size with blood relatives living permanently in one house, joint property ownership with harmonious utilisation and permission required for sale or transfer, common residence where even married sons remain part of the core family, a common kitchen where food is prepared and eaten together, shared religion and daily worship routines, self reliance where the family fulfills most needs and divides chores by effort, age and gender, and a structure of authority where the oldest member makes decisions, with transfers following seniority in age. Question eleven asks, what are the reasons for the increase in the number of divided families? The reasons are privacy, personal happiness, self contentment, property rights, changing social values, geographical and social structure, advances in science and technology, industrialisation, urbanisation, principles of democracy and equality, decline of religious faith and thinking, spread of materialistic attitude, and freedom of women. [CHECKPOINT]
For the activity section, you are asked to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of divided and undivided families. For undivided families, advantages include emotional support, shared financial burden, preservation of culture, and care for elders. Disadvantages may include lack of privacy, potential for conflicts, and restricted individual freedom. For divided families, advantages include personal freedom, privacy, and independent decision making. Disadvantages include potential isolation of elders, higher individual financial burden, and weaker traditional bonds. The second activity asks you to visit a tribal area and learn about their family system. You should observe their living arrangements, decision making processes, property sharing, and how they maintain their cultural traditions within their family structure. Finally, for the project, you must collect more information about matriarchal and patriarchal families. Focus on historical examples, property rights, leadership roles, and how these systems function in modern times. [CHECKPOINT]
Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]