Findout how membership, residence pattern and even the mode ofinteraction changes in the family with broader economic, politicaland cultural changes, for instance migration.

Familyis an institution where its members live together under one roof andhave cordial relationships. It is affected by broader political,economic and cultural activities of the society. Some examples of theway these activities of the society affect the family are:

CulturalChange

With the change in culture, the membership,residence pattern and mode of interaction within a family alsochanges. For example, in a matrilineal society the women play a majorrole in decision-making in the family. However, in a patriarchalsociety, men exercise authority and dominance over the family.

Another example of cultural change is the preference or resistancetowards individualism. If the members of a family areindividualistic, then there are chances of having a nuclear family.On the other hand, increase in the inter-personal relationships leadsto a joint family.

Political Change

During post-unification period in the 1990s,Germany witnessed a rapid decline in the number of marriages becausethe new German state withdrew all the protection and welfare schemeswhich were provided to the families prior to the unification. This isan example of broader political change influencing the family.

EconomicChange

Whena society undergoes economic changes, even the family gets affectedindirectly. For example, industrialisation has led to the emergenceof nuclear families and women have also adopted instrumental roles inthe family.

Migration

Dueto economic instability in a society, people migrate in search ofwork. For example, people from a flood affected village migrate tocities in search of new homes and new jobs. In some cases, women stayat their village and perform household activities, while the husbandsmigrate to the city for work.

Migrationalso leads to a change in the housing pattern because the people whomigrate from villages have to live in slums and in tents. Similarly,in village they live with their parents and other relatives but inthe city they either have to stay alone or with their husband or wifeand children only. This change depicts a change in the membershippattern of the family.

  • 1
What are you looking for?