Families are of different varieties depending on society or country. Families can be divided into different types based on different yardsticks. Families can be classified into numerious varieties based on the numbers of husband-wife, authority, size of family, family status, living place and the process of selecting the bride and the groom.
1. Family based on the numbers of husband and wife: based on this families of this kind can be three types- the monogamous, polygyny and polyandry family. A single or monogamous family can be formed by the matrimonial relation between a man and a woman. A single wife family is seen as the most common time of family in the world. This type of family is regarded as an ideal family. In this family structure, friendly rapport is seen to be the core between a husband and a wife. Again, the family that is formed through the marriage between one man with many women is known as a polygyny family or family having many wives at a time. In this type of family, a single man can keep more than one wife living at a time. Commonly, this sort of polygamous family is seen in the agro-based local Muslim family.’ Such as custom is also seen in the Eskimo and in the Negro in Africa. A family of one wife having many husbands at a time is known as a polyandry family. “ This sort of family is not seen very common in the modern civilized society ety. But, in Tibet, there was a time when it was a custom for a wife to have many husbands. Besides, the family of this category was also found among the Toda inhabitants of the Malagarh region in south India.
2. Family based on authority: Based on this family of this kind can be of two types: patriarchal and Matriarchal. In a patriarchal family, the overall power and authority of the family rests on the male members of the family like the father, husband, or the other elderly people. In these types of families, family name and identification are determined through the male members of the family. This type is more common in the society of Bangladesh. Again, the family whose overall authority and power is exercised by the mother is known as a matriarchal family. In Bangladesh, the family among the different ethnic communities, especially the family of Khasia and Garo, is matriarchal.
3. Family based on the size: Based on this, families of this kind can be of three types: single or nuclear family, joint family, and extended family. The family where the husband, wife, and their unmarried children live together is known as a single or nuclear family. This family is confined within two generations. These two generations mean a father and his young children. Most of the families in urban areas of our country are nuclear families. This tendency of keeping single family is also obvious in rural areas, but in the civilized countries of the world, such type of family system was prevalent. In the joint family, the married son and his children live together in the same family under the authority of his parents. Like a single family, the bonds of a joint family develop through the blood relation among family members. In the rural areas of our country, most of the families are joint ones. Now the number of these type of joint family decreasing for various reasons. A family where the father and mother, their children, their wives and children, and other relatives live together is regarded as an extended family. In an extended family, members from the parents may remain included. This type of family can still be seen in our rural societies. Such a family system is also seen in China.
4. Family based on the status and Inheritance of properties: Based on this families of this kind can be of two types – patrinieal and matrilineal family. In patrilineal family, children are entitled to the family status and inheritance of properties of father. This type of family is present in our social system. In matrilineal family, children get family status and property inheritance through mother. The maternal family stem still exists in Khashia and Garo communities.
5. Family based on Dwelling Place of Husband and Wife after Marriage: Based on this, families of this kind can be of three types-patrilocal, matrilocal and neo-local. The family where the newly married couple lives in the husband’s father’s house is called a patrilocal family. It is commonly seen in our social system. A matrilocal family is a type of family where the newly married couple lives in the wife’s father’s house. This family is found among the Garos. The married couple does not live either with the husband’s or at the wife’s parents' house; rather, they live in a new place, known as nonlocal family. This type of family is found within the service holders of urban areas.
6. Family based on the selection of bride and groom: Though muslim society does not practice indulgence in case marriage, the Hindu society bears testimony to it. In the Hindu society, there are two types of marriage –Exogamous family and Endogamous family. When a person marries outside of his own caste, it is called exogamy. This family is of two types. When a bridegroom of superior caste marries to a bride of lower caste, is called morganatic or Anulome marriage sysem. When a bridegroom of a lower caste marries a bride of upper caste, it is called morganatic or protilome marriage. The root cause of this type of marriage is to prevent incest from the society. Again, if a person marries within the same caste, it is called an Endogamous family. This type of Endogamous marriage is more common in Hindu society. To protect the so-called blood bond and to keep its purity intact are the only reasons behind this type of marriage. Now-a-days, many changes have taken in to forming such type of family. Most Hindu families consider this caste system as superstitious.
No comments:
Post a Comment