Social change
It refers to any significant alteration over
time in behavior patterns and cultural values and norms. By “significant”
alteration, sociologists mean changes yielding profound social
consequences. Examples of significant social changes having long-term effects
include the industrial revolution, the abolition of slavery, and the feminist
movement.
Social Deviation / Social Deviance
Some
sociologists conceive of deviance as a collection of conditions, persons, or
acts that society disvalues, finds offensive, or condemns.
It is defined
as the recognized violation of cultural norms. This is an extremely broad
definition, and depending on who is explaining it, the above definition can
mean a variety of different things. It is, however, generally assumed by the general
public that anyone who is considered "deviant" is putting a negative
stranglehold on society. This is not necessarily true.
Deviance is
exhibited in many forms throughout society. Deviance is not necessarily
negative either. Sometimes the norms of society need to be violated so that new
norms can be enforced. (Eg
Untouchability or sati in India) Society repeatedly attempts to put many social
controls on its people. Anyone who does not fit the perfect mold of the
zombie-citizen would be considered a deviant. If there was no deviance, this
planet would be comprised of billions of mindless robot-like people who are
simply guided from an unseen power that tells them when to get up in the
morning, when to go to bed at night, how much money to give to the government,
and what decisions they can and can't make under their own free will.
Value Conflict
A value conflict comes about when two people or groups have dissenting
views on morality--that basic understanding of what is naturally right or
wrong. Relationship and value conflicts are the most subjective conflict types,
because they are based totally on what someone "feels" about a person
or situation.
Adoption system
“Adoption” means the process through which the adopted child is
permanently separated from his biological parents and becomes the legitimate
child of his adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and
responsibilities that are attached to the relationship. Adoption of orphan,
abandoned and surrendered children in India is governed by a set of guidelines
notified by Government of India.
The following fundamental principles shall govern adoptions of children
from India, namely: -
·
The child's best interest shall be of prime importance while
deciding any placement;
·
Preference shall be given to place the child in adoption
within the country;
·
Adoption of children shall be guided by a set procedures and
in a time bound manner;
·
No one shall derive any gain, whether financial or
otherwise, through adoption.
Person competent
to be adopted
In accordance with the provisions of sub-section (6) of section 41, the
Court may allow a child to be given in adoption:
·
To an individual irrespective of his or her marital status;
or
·
To parents to adopt a child of the same sex irrespective of
the number of living biological sons or daughters; or
·
To a childless couple.
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to a marriage.
Max Radin: Ordinarily dowry is the property which a man receives when he
marries either from his wife or her family.
Websters: The money, goods or estate, which a woman brings to her husband
in marriage.
In brief dowry is that money, property or valuables which the bride party
has to give to groom party in exchange of marriage. The chief evil of dowry
system is that the bride party is compelled to give it in exchange of marriage
otherwise the bride has to suffer the consequences at the hand of her in-laws.
It is high time that this society puts an end to this evil custom which has
driven many women to suicide.
Some people have pointed out certain advantages like the dowry system
helps set the household for the newlyweds or the lure of dowry helps in
marriage of ugly and uneducated women. However these so called advantages fail
to provide any excuse for the ill effects of dowry like murder of female
children, suicide of young women, late marriages of girls, unmatched marriages,
child marriages to avoid dowry, divorces, criminal activities of fathers of
girls, lowering of standard of living to save for dowry, immorality, hindrance
to women’s education etc.
The government of India has passed an act to ban dowry, however it has not
been very effective. To uproot this evil completely increase in women’s
education, inter-caste marriages and anti-dowry propaganda across the country
is needed.
Divorce
It can be defined as the legal dissolution of a marriage by
a court or other competent body.
Like every major life
change, divorce can be a stressful experience. It affects finances, living
arrangements, household jobs, schedules and more. If the family includes
children, they may be deeply affected.
Before the Hindu marriage
act of 1955, Hindu women could not divorce her husband even if he had made her
life miserable. The act prescribes monogamy and has declared polygamy illegal. It
also accepts mother as the guardian of the child along with the father. The law
permits divorce in case of:
(1)
Adultery
(2)
Change of religion
(3)
Suffering from some incurable disease not
contacted from the other spouse
(4)
Not traceable for more than 7 years
(5)
Absence of co-habitation for more than 2 years
(6)
If
husband is guilty of rape, sodomy or bestiality
After the court gives permission to divorce, the man and
woman cannot marry for one year.
Changing status of women in Indian Society
The structure of Indian society is undergoing tremendous
change due to urbanization, westernization, industrialization and politicization.
This has influenced changes in the family organization and has specially
affected the women. Today there is a rapid transitional period in the status of
women in India. These substantial changes have given new challenging roles and
status to women. Apart from motherhood and domestic work, women today are
undertaking an active role in the economic organization.
Though the roles today are increasing the woman’s status has
not improved considerably due to several and controversial reasons.
A careful examination of human society narrates that Vedic
women occupied an important role which was equal to man. They were educated and
enjoyed a comparatively higher status than enjoyed by women in the post-vedic
period. Women were honored as central points in domestic as well as in the
society. However in course of time their status both in family and in society
deteriorated. During the Mughal period in India the status deteriorated
further. After the British administration women’s status reached the lowest
level. However due to social reforms movement by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, D. K
Karve, Mahadev Govind Ranade women’s status gradually increased.
Traditional Society
Traditional society refers to a society characterized by an
orientation to the past, not the future, with a predominant role for custom and
habit.
Such a society will be marked by a lack of distinction
between family and business, with the division of labor influenced primarily by
age, gender, and status.
Family
Family
can be defined as a fundamental social group in society typically consisting of
one or two parents and their children. It is also defined as two or more people
who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and
reside usually in the same dwelling place.
A
family in any society consists of an inherited group of people who are related
with by birth or marriage.
All
the members of a household are under one roof. In most societies it is the
principal institution for the socialization of children. A family group
consisting of a father, mother and their children is called a nuclear family.
The other type of family is the joint or extended family.
The
family is considered to encourage "intimacy, love and trust where
individuals may escape the competition of dehumanizing forces in modern
society. Earlier the family's task was to protect against the outside
world. Earlier marriages were arranged
for political or economic gain. Today people choose mates based on love. This
increased role of love indicates a societal shift toward favoring emotional
fulfillment and relationships within a family,
Good Family Traits
·
Good family relationships are vital
for the development of child's personality.
·
Developing healthy relation is in the
hand of family members.
·
Their habits, way of working, problem
solving approach all together makes a home heaven or hell.
·
A home has to be a place where we can
relax and be ourselves, and recover from the conflicts of the external world.
Head of Family
An
individual in one family setting who provides actual support and maintenance to
one or more individuals who are related to him or her through Adoption, blood,
or marriage.
The
designation head of household, also termed head of family, is applied to one
whose authority to exercise family control and to support the dependent members
is founded upon a moral or legal obligation or duty.
Nuclear Family
A
nuclear family is defined as a family group consisting of a father and mother
and their children, all exclusively sharing living quarters. The term nuclear
is used in its general meaning referring to a central entity or
"nucleus" around which others collect. Nuclear families typically
center on a married couple, but not always.
The
nuclear family may have any number of children. Some definitions allow only
biological children that are full-blood siblings, while others allow for a
stepparent and any mix of dependent children including stepchildren and adopted
children.
Nuclear Family Merits
·
There is some freedom in nuclear
family
·
Individual can take his own decision
to make their future bright
·
They can ignore some orthodox belief.
Nuclear Family Demerits
·
Any major decision needs to be taken
alone and lacks the advantage of having experience of close & experienced
seniors
·
All are too busy in their work and
managing the house
·
Lesser time for developing intra
personal relationships in the house
·
Higher stress levels
·
They don't have time to expand social
relationship.
Joint Family
A
Joint Family is an extended family arrangement. Its more prevalent among
Indians & other Asian cultures (Collectivistic Cultures). The joint family
has always been the preferred family type in the Indian culture, and most
Indians at some point in their lives have participated in joint family living
It
consists of many generations living under the same roof. All the male members
are blood relatives and all the women are either mothers, wives, unmarried
daughters, or widowed relatives, all bound by the common relationship. The
joint family status is the result of birth and the members of the family stay
together. The family is headed by a patriarch, usually the oldest male who
makes decisions on economic and social matters on behalf of the entire family.
The patriarch's wife generally exerts control over the kitchen, child rearing
and minor religious practices. All money goes to the common pool and all
property is held jointly. Family ties are given more importance than marital
ties.
It
generally includes three to four living generations, including uncles, aunts,
nieces, nephews, and grandparents living together in the same household. It is
a group composed of a number of family units living in separate rooms of the
same house. In most instances, the elderly care for their grandchildren and
assist with cooking and household chores. Even adult children continue to
consult their parents on most of the important aspects of life.
All
members live under one roof.
Share
the same kitchen.
A
common place of worship.
No
division of property until the death of the head of family or older male
person.
Joint Family Merits
·
The arrangement provides a kind of
social security in a familial atmosphere.
·
The family supports the old; takes
care of widows, never-married adults, and the disabled;
·
Assists during periods of
unemployment;
·
Provides security and a sense of
support and togetherness
·
Children can get better environment
& culture
·
Many members are there to take care in
case of any problem.
·
There were less security problems.
·
Members enjoy their festival with full
enthusiasm.
·
Any major decision can be taken wisely
after discussion with each member of the family.
·
Have a prestigious status in society
Joint Family Demerits
·
It is very difficult to ignore some
orthodox belief.
·
Difficult for Adolescence and young
adults to assert themselves and exhibit any independence in thought, action, or
behavior.
·
Arranged marriages are still the norm,
and dating generally is not allowed.
·
Sex and sexuality issues are not
openly discussed
·
Sex education is not readily available
·
Interrelationships with the opposite
sex are discouraged
·
Premarital sex is frowned upon.
·
Communication between parents and
children tends to be one-sided.
Causes of Family Disintegration
1.
Rapid Industrialization:
The
joint family system worked well in a rural society. But when India chose the
path of rapid industrialization, many new factories and industries were setup
at distant places. The rural ties started migrating to those distant places in
search of employment in industry. The migrants left their own villages and
families. The joint families suffered set back.
2.
Urbanization:
The
urban centers provide people with various amentias of life concerning transport
and communication, sanitation and health, education and employment, etc. People
are attracted by the urban civilization and there is rural to urban type of
migration. As it becomes difficult to maintain an extended family or joint
family in the cities or towns due to high cost of urban living and problems of
accommodation, people afford to life in the nuclear type of families
3.
Rapid growth of population:
India
is an overpopulated country. Rapid growth of population has brought increasing
pressure on land. The rural youths have been compelled to move to distant
places in search of employment opportunities. This has caused the breakdown of
joint families.
4.
Rapid development of Transport and Communication:
Due
to lack of developed transport and communication the rural ties were forced to
live together in the joint families in the villages. They could not move easily
from one place to another during those days. But now-a-days there has been
rapid development of transport and communication facilities along with
expansion of the network. People can move from one place to another quickly and
easily. This has enabled them to change their traditional ancestral occupation
and choose occupations according to their caliber and competence. Such factors
have caused the disruption of the joint family system.
5.
Impact of the western civilization:
Due
to the impact of the west, the living and thinking of the Indians have been
changed. British rule in India presented before the Indians the western type of
small family based on freedom, equality and love between man and woman. The
members who lived in the joint family became conscious of the positive aspects
of the single family system. At the same time, they also become aware of the
disadvantages of the joint family system based on that concept of sacrifice,
responsibility and devotion. Finally, individualism as a gift of western
culture, gave rise to a separatist tendency within the joint family which
resulted in its decline.
6.
Decline of Agriculture and Village Industries:
In
the past the rural people were engaged in agriculture, agro-industry and co industries.
Such occupations by the rural ties boosted the joint family system. But under
changed circumstances, the commodities produced by the rural people fail to
compete the factory products in respect of both quality and cost. As a result,
the agro-industries cottage industries have been closed down. Furthermore, the
heavy pressure on the agriculture land caused surplus of laborers who preferred
to move to cities and industrial centers! Search of employment.
7.
Attraction of the entertainment and other opportunities of the urban
communities:
Lack
of entertainment, inadequate educational facility for children, and lack of
opportunity for employment for the educated rural youths in the rural setting
induce the aspirants of rural community to leave their place of origin. First
of all, these youths move to cities after being settled there they take their
family of procreation. This brings about the disintegrate of the joint family
in the village.
8.
Role of New Social Legislations:
Some
social legislation which has been enacted by the state legislature and the
Parliament, particularly after achievement of independence, has adversely
affected the joint family system in India. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, has
enabled women to seek divorce depending upon certain circumstances. The Hindu
Succession Act, 1956 enabled the women to claim a share of their father's
property. The Civil Marriage Act, 1954 made it possible for the adult boys and
girls to marry on their own. All these social legislations have some negative
effects on the features of joint family such as holding property in common,
taking food cooked in a common kitchen, staying under one roof, etc.
9.
Modern Education:
Modern
education changes the attitude of people and enables them to get into jobs. After
getting jobs they settle down in their place of work and made the family of
procreation there. As a result, their joint family in village breaks down.
10.
Enlightenment of women:
Modern
Indian women are no more prepared to put up with the oppression of the joint
family. They have become conscious of their equal rights and status. They are
resented against staying within four walls of household in the traditional
subordinate position and to serve their in-laws. All these factors affected the
patriarchal authority of the joint family system and the in- laws failed to
adjust with the educated and conscious women. As a result, the process of
disintegration started in the joint family.
Importance of education for family development
Education
is the fourth necessity for man after food, clothing and shelter, in today’s
competitive world.
Education
in today’s world helps the family for earning livelihood.
It’s
the education which transforms a person to live a better life and more
importantly in a socially wellbeing. It helps a person to draw the best out of
their mind and spirit.
A
child’s whole future life, to a large extent, depends on the teaching it
receives in early childhood and it is needless to say that this first
foundation of education cannot be well laid by an ignorant mother. So the
mother needs to be educated to rear young ones to face todays competitive world
confidently.
This
social heritage (culture) must be transmitted. They must be learned. Education
has this function of cultural transmission in all societies.
Individual
must have personalities shaped or fashioned in ways that fit into the culture.
Education everywhere has the function of the formation of social personalities.
Education
helps to remove unfounded beliefs, illogical prejudices and unreasoned
loyalties from the child's mind.
Education
encourages the spirit of competition and helps children face the competitive
world.
Education
imparts social skills and values. It also imparts value that unite different
sections of society.
Socialization of Child
Human
infants are born without any culture.
They must be transformed by their parents, teachers, and others into
cultural and socially adept animals. The
general process of acquiring culture is referred to as socialization.
Socialization is a gradual process of learning.
It is a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal
identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate
to his or her social position.
Socialization means the child's learning to participate in social roles. The
newborn child is not taught all the things about social life at once. It
proceeds from simplicity to complexity.
During
the early stages of life (infancy and childhood) socialization takes place
within the 'simple' limited social world. The first stage begins with the birth
of the child and continues upto the completion of one year. The child learns to
give signals for his felt needs by crying. In this stage, the child is involved
in himself and his mother.
The
second stage normally begins soon after the first year and is completed during
the third year. It is here that the child learns that he cannot depend entirely
on the mother and that he has to take some degree of care for himself. The
child in this stage internalizes two separate roles-his own role and that of
his mother. The child receives care and love from the mother and learns to give
love in return. The child is enabled to distinguish between correct and
incorrect actions. The correct action is rewarded and the incorrect action is
not rewarded or punished.
The
third stage mostly starts from the fourth year of the child and extends upto
puberty. It is in this stage the child becomes the member of the family as a
whole. It is here the child has to identify himself with the social role
ascribed to him on the basis of his gender. In this stage, sufficient social
pressures are brought on the child to identify with the right gender. The boy
tries to identify himself with the father and the girl with the mother. In this
period interest for learning various skills begins.
The
four stage starts with the period of adolescence. Due to the physiological and
the psychological change, that take place within the individuals this stage
assumes importance. During this stage, the boys and girls try to become free
from parental control. They want to be free in doing various activities. But
the parents continue to control many of their activities. Hence, they may
experience a kind of strain or conflict in themselves.
Marriage
Marriage
is a social contract for the satisfaction of physical, biological, psychological
and spiritual needs of male and female leading to the formation of a family, to
bring up children and live together. Sexual relationship and procreation are
undoubtedly the primary aims of marriage. Marriage validates sex relationships.
Definition:
"Marriage
is a contract for the production and maintenance of children."
"Marriage
is a socially approved way of establishing a family of procreation."
"Marriage
is a stable relationship in which a man and a woman are socially permitted,
without a loss of standing in community, to have children."
"Marriage
is an institution that sanctions the relationship of a man and a woman and bids
them in a system of mutual obligation as husband and wife and rights essential
to the functioning of family life."
Marriage
is a universal social institution. It puts restrictions on premarital and
extramarital sex relationship.
Types of Marriage
The
form of marriage varies from society to society. The main forms of marriage are
-
(1)
Monogamy: Monogamy, the most widespread form of marriage is found among the
primitive as well as the civilized people. Monogamy is a form of marriage in
which one man marries one woman. This marriage lasts till death. The union is
unbreakable. Monogamy minimizes jealousy, hatred, quarrels etc. in the family.
Monogamy is regarded as the most ideal form of marriage.
(2)
Polygamy: Polygamy is a plural marriage including more than one spouse at the
same time.
Polyandry:
Polyandry is the marriage of one woman with several men. (a) Fraternal polyandry:
When several brothers share the same wife, it is called fraternal polyandry.
(b) Non-fraternal polyandry: When a woman marries several men who are not
brothers it is called non-fraternal polyandry.
Polygyny:
Polygyny is a form of marriage in which one man marries more than one woman at
a time. Polygyny is more popular than polyandry. It exists in all parts of the
world. (a) Sororal: It is a type of
marriage in which the wives are invariably the sisters. (b) Non-Sororal: It is
a type of marriage in which the wives are not related as sisters.
(3)
Group marriage: Group marriage means the marriage of two or more women with two
or more men. This form of marriage is described as the worst form of marriage
because it only occurs for sexual relationship.
(4)
Preferential marriage: (a) Parallel Cousin marriage: When the children of two
brothers of sisters marry, it is known as parallel cousin marriage. (b)
Levirate: In this type of marriage after the death of the husband the wife
marries her husband's brother. (b) Sororate: In this type after the death of
wife, the husband marries one of the sisters of his wife.
Social Legislation about Marriage
In
March 1961, when the bill on unequal marriages was being discussed in the Rajya
Sabha. Dr. Radhakrishnan, the then chairman of the Rajya Sabha, had remarked:
the ancient history cannot solve the problems of modern society. This is an
answer in one sentence to those critics who want to maintain a gap between
social opinion and social legislation.
Legislation
must meet the social needs of the people and because the social needs change,
legislation also must change from time to time. The function of social
legislation is to adjust the legal system continually to a society, which is
constantly outgrowing that system.
One
of the changes in modern India is the change in the attitude towards marriage;
hence the necessity of laws on different aspects of marriage.
The
laws enacted in India relate to:
(i)
age at marriage
(ii)
field of mate selection,
(iii)
number of spouses in marriage,
(iv)
breaking of marriage,
(v)
dowry to be given and taken, and
(vi)
remarriage.
The
important legislations relating to these six aspects of marriage passed from
time to time are:
(i)
The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 (dealing with age at marriage),
(ii)
The Hindu Marriage Disabilities Removal Act 1946 and Hindu Marriage Validity
Act, 1949 (dealing with field of mate selection),
(iii)
The Special Act. 1954 (dealing with age at marriage, freedom to children in
marriage without parental consent, bigamy, and breaking up of marriage),
(iv)
The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (dealing with age at marriage with the consent of
parents bigamy, and breaking up of marriage)
(v)
The Dowry Act 1961, and
(vi)
The Widow Remarriage Act, 1856.
Social Legislation about Family
Family
laws in India are different for different religions and there is no uniform
civil code. This system of distinct laws for each religion began during the
British Raj when Warren Hastings in 1772 created provisions prescribing Hindu
law for Hindus and Islamic law for Muslims, for litigation relating to personal
matters.
However,
after independence, efforts have been made to modernise various aspects of personal
law and bring about uniformity among various religions. Recent reform has
affected custody and guardianship laws, adoption laws, succession law, and laws
concernint domestic violence and child marriage.
