Types of Family

 TYPES OF FAMILY

Family is a universal social organization. But its forms, structure or types vary from society to society and from time to time. Due to variation in the condition of life, social values, culture and a host of other factors, different types of family are found to exist. Hence it becomes difficult to classify family. But sociologists and anthropologists made an attempt to classify family. They classify families on a different basis.

However, different types of families are as follows:

1. Based on birth: 

The family of orientation and procreation may live together under the same roof but can still be distinguished.

i. Family of Orientation:

The family in which an individual is born is his family of orientation.

ii. Family of Procreation:

The family where an individual sets up after his or her marriage is his or her family of procreation.

2. Based on marriage: 

A family constitutes of monogamous, polygynous and polyandrous family.

i. Monogamous family:

This family consists of one husband and wife, including children and is based on monogamous marriages.

ii. Polygynous family:

A family consisting of one husband and more than one wife, and all the children are born to all the wives or adopted by each of them. This type of family has its basis in the polygynous form of marriage.

iii. Polyandrous family:

A family is made up of one wife and more than one husband, and the children are either born or adopted by each one of them. This family is based on poly­androus marriage.

3. Based on residence: 

A family may be matrilocal, patrilocal and changing residence.

i. Family of matrilocal residence:

When a couple stays in the wife’s house, the family is known as family of matrilocal residence.

ii. Family of patrilocal residence:

When a family stays in the house of husband, the fam­ily is known as family of patrilocal residents.

iii. Family of changing residence:

When a family stays in the husband’s house for some time and moves to wife’s house, stays there for a period of time, and then moves back to husband’s parents, or starts living in another place, the family is called a family of chang­ing residence.

4. Based on ancestry or descent: 

A family may be classified into matrilineal and patrilineal families:

i. Matrilineal family:

When ancestry or descent is traced through the female line or through the mother’s side, the family is called a matrilineal family.

ii. Patrilineal family:

A family in which the authority is carried down the male line and descent is traced through the male line or the father’s side is called a patrilineal family.

5. Based on the nature of relations: 

A family may be classified into conjugal and consanguineous families which are described below:

i. Conjugal family:

A conjugal family is a nuclear family consisting of a married couple and their children (by birth or adopted) who are unmarried and underage.

ii. Consanguineous family:

This type of family consists of close-blood relatives along with their mates and children.

6. Based on size or structure: 

On the basis of this criterion, family can be divided into Nuclear family and Joint family.

i. Nuclear family:

In its most common usage, the term nuclear family (or elementary family) refers to a household consisting of a father, a mother and their children all in one household.

ii. Joint family:

Joint family means two or more elementary families joined together.

8. On the basis of authority: 

A family may be patriarchal or matriarchal.

i. The patriarchal family:

In a patriarchal family, the eldest male descendant is the protector and ruler of the family, enjoying full authority over the family members. He is the owner and administrator of the family property and rights.

ii. The matriarchal family:

In a matriarchal family, the authority vests in the woman, head of the family, with the males being subordinate. She is the owner of property and rules over the family.

Indian family life is based on some universally acknowledged principles. The sanctity of domestic life, of such loyal relationship between father and son, brother and sister, husband and wife, the relationships are strengthened by intimate values and reciprocity. The need for an agrarian economy ever encouraged joint family values. Family life has always been cherished and often associated but popular in the Indian context.