ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (FAMILY)

TOPIC: FAMILY 

'Family' is the biological social unit composed of husband, wife and children' - Eliot and Merrill.

The word 'family' has been derived from the Latin word 'Familiare.'

In human setting, a family is a gathering of individuals affiliated by relationship, fondness or co-residence. A family group comprising of a father, mother and their unmarried kids is known as a nuclear family.  In past there were joint (extended) families since individuals were associated with home business or cultivating. In an extended or joint family individuals live together and work in specific area to generate income for family.

TYPES OF FAMILY  

1. BASED ON BIRTH: 

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

b. Family of procreation: The family where an individual sets up after his/her marriage is his/her family of procreation.
NOTE: The family of orientation and the family of procreation may live together under the same roof, but can still be distinguished.

2. BASED ON MARRIAGE:

a. Monogamous family: This family comprises of one husband and wife, including children.

b. Polygynous family: A family comprising of one spouse/husband and more than one wife, and every one of the children born to every one of the wives or adopted by each one of them.
c. Polyandrous family:  A family made up of one spouse and more than one husband, and the children, either born or adopted with each one of them.

3. BASED ON RESIDENCE:
a. Family of matrilocal residence: When a couple stays in the wife's house.
b. Family of patrilocal residence:  When a family stays in the house of husband's house.

c. Family of changing residence:  When a family remains in the husband's home for quite a while and moves to wife's home, remains there for a while, and after that moves back to in-laws or starts living in somewhere else.

4. BASED ON ANCESTRY OR DESCENT:
a. Matrilineal family: When ancestry or descent is followed through the female line or through mother's side.
b. Patrilineal family: A family which is followed through the male line or the father's side.

BASED ON AUTHORITY:

a. Matriarchal family: Matriarchal families are commonly found in matrilineal societies. In these families, a lady is the head of the family and authority is vested in her. Succession of property is through the female line, just girls acquire the property. After marriage, the husband dwells in the wife's home and descent is followed through the mother's side. Here, kids are raised in mother's home. Matriarchal families are foundd distinctly in matrilineal societies, which are extremely restricted in number all over the world. They are found in parts of Latin America, Ceylon, parts of Africa and India (The Khasis and the Garos.)

b. Patriarchal family: Patriarchal (male centric) families are generally found in all parts of the world, since most societies on the planet are patrilineal. In patriarchal families, the head of the family is a male and authority is vested in him. descent and property is gone through the male line and kids are raised in father's home.

BASED ON THE NATURE OF RELATIONS:

a. Conjugal family: the conjugal family is made up of adults among whom there is a sexual relationship. It refers to a family system of spouses and their dependent children. The emphasis is placed on the marital relationship that exists between spouses. In modern times, the term 'conjugal family' is being used for partners, who have a long-term sexual relationship, but are not actually married.

b. Consangine family: A consanguine family is comprised of individuals among whom a blood connection exists, or those who are consanguineal kin, a family consisting of parent(s) and children or siblings. 

BASED ON STRUCTURE:
a. Nuclear family: A nuclear is a small gathering comprising of a husband, a wife and children, natural or adopted. It is a self-ruling unit that is under the influence of grown-ups of the family. it comprises of two generations in particular. In fact, nuclear family is both the outcome as well as the reason for the deterioration of joint family.     
b. Joint family: A joint family comprises of three generations, living together under the same rooftop, having a similar kitchen and financial costs. It is a family consists of three nuclear families. According to Iravati Karve, a joint family is a group of people, in common, who generally live under the same roof, who eat food cooked at one hearth, who hold property in common, and who participate in common family worship and are related to each other as some particular type of kindred.   

DISADVANTAGES OF JOINT FAMILY:

1. 1. Individual can't take his very own choice to make their future bright. 
2. Youths can't disregard some standard conviction (orthodox belief).

CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILY:

1. Family is a universal group. It is found in some form or the other, in a wide range of social orders whether primitive or present day.
2. A family depends on marriage, which results in mating relationship between two grown-ups of opposite sex.
3. Each family gives an individual a name, and subsequently, it is a source of nomenclature.
4. Family is the gathering through which descent or heritage can be followed.
5. Family is the most significant group in any person's life. 
6. Family is the most fundamental and significant group in essential socialization of a person.
7. A family is commonly limited in size, even large, joint and extended families.
8. The family is the most significant group in the society; it is the core of all institutions, associations or organizations and groups.
9. Family depends on feelings and sentiments. Mating, procreation, maternal and fraternal dedication, love and affection are the basis of family ties.
10. The family is a unit of  emotional and financial cooperation.  

FUNCTIONS OF A FAMILY

1. Family is a unit through which procreation happens. Marriage sanctions sexual relationship and it additionally sets up family, which is further reinforced with the birth of youngsters.
2. The process of reproduction is institutionalized, regulated and controlled in a family. the family legitimizes the act of reproduction. 
3. family helps in spread of human species and propagation of human race.
4. Family provides an individual with an identity.
5. It is through the family that each family name is carried on from one generation to a different.
6. Family is responsible for the production and upbringing of youngsters.
7. Family is a significant agent of socialization. The essential socialization of any individual happens within the family. The immediate family members tech all the fundamental principles and standards of social life to a kid. 
8. Family is likewise a significant agent of cultural transmission. Culture is transmitted from one generation to another through family. All the aspects of culture are learnt within the family structure.
9. Family is an extraordinary source of solidarity, enthusiastic and physiological, for its members. Every one of the members know that they can rely on their family in the times of need.
10. Family gives an individual a home, and builds up enduring social connections.