Women in Agriculture

Lesson 16 : Changing Pattern of Rural Families

Structural Changes

• Nuclearity is increasing and jointness is decreasing
• A new classification has emerged among the joint families as large, medium and small joint families
• Small joint families are, of typical rural families, while, large and medium are Showing a complex nature.
• The proportion of nuclear families is almost that of number of joint families
• The radius of kinship within the circle of jointness is becoming smaller
• Higher caste groups are containing with joint families are continuing with joint families, while lower caste groups show higher incidences of nuclear families
• Compared to urban families, rural joint families are showing distinctive features, which are mostly situational
• Politics and economy are influencing rural family structure more significantly than any other factor
• Distant relatives are less important to the present generation than they were to their parents and grand parents
• Differential learning of brothers is creating tension in joint families
• System of social security, savings, extended earning opportunities are leading to nuclear families