JOINT FAMILY

In a Joint Family System basically all the members of the family live together
under one roof and are related to each other.
Property belongs to the family as a whole and all family income is pooled
together. In this system everyone learns according to his capacity and gets
according to his needs and requirements. The whole family has a common
Kitchen. Characteristics of Joint Family:
The chief characteristics of joint family are as follows.
(1) Large Size:
The fiats characteristic of the joint family is its large size. A single family
consists of only the husband, wife and their children. But a joint family
consists of parents, children, grandchildren and other near relatives along with
their women members. It is a group of which several basic families live
together at one and the same time.
(2) Joint Property:
In a joint family, the ownership, production and consumption of wealth takes
place on a joint basis. It is a co-operative institution. Similar to a joint stock
company, in which there is a joint property. The head of the family is like
trustee who manages the property of the family for the material and spiritual
welfare of the family members. The total earnings of all the family members
are pooled together.
(3) Co-operative Organisation:

The basis of Joint Family System is cooperation. A joint family consists of a

large number of members and if they do not co-operate with one another it is
not possible to maintain the organisation and structure of the joint family.
4) A Productive Unit
This feature of joint family is found among agricultural families. All the
members work at one and the same field. They do the sowing and harvesting
of the crops together. Even in the case of artisan classes all the members of a
joint family do one and the same function.
(5) Mutual Rights and Obligations:
The rights and obligations of the members of joint family are the same. None
except the head of the family has special privileges. Every member of the
family has equal obligations. If one female member works in the kitchen, the
other does the laundry work, and the third one looks after the children. There
is a rotation of duties as well.

Advantages of Joint Family System:

The following are the advantages of joint family system
(i) Economy:
The collective cooking, shelter and consumption brings down the cost of
expenditure. Since things are consumed in large quantities they are secured
at economic prices. Within small means a large family can be maintained if it
lives jointly.
(ii) Division of Labour:

It secures the advantages of the division of labour. Every member in the family
is given work according to his abilities without being taxed unduly. Every
phase of family life is managed by all members including women and children
. (iii) Social Insurance:
In the joint family the orphans find a comfortable asylum instead of being
thrown out. Similarly, widows are assured of their proper living for whom
remarriage in India is unthinkable. The joint family acts as a social insurance
company for the old, sick and incapacitated. (iv) Social Virtues:
It fosters great virtues like sacrifice, affection, co-operation, spirit of
selflessness, broad mindedness among its members and makes the family a
cradle of social virtues. Under the care of elders the undesirable and
antisocial tendencies of the young are checked and they are prevented from
going astray. They learn of exercise self-control. All members learn to obey
family rules and respect their elders.

What is the joint family?

A joint family (also undivided family, joint household, extended family system) is a
large undivided family where more than one generation live together in a common
house. A joint family is a form of family where the grand-parents, father, mother, and
children live unitedly under one roof.

What is the difference between joint family and nuclear family?

2. Joint Family Joint family is also known as Extended family The term. joint
family defines a family that extends beyond the nuclear family It consist of
grandparents , aunts , uncles. & cousins all living nearby or in a same household
Following is the merits or advantages joint family.

1) Cradle of social virtues:

Joint family is like a nursery to teach social virtues. It helps to develop social virtues like cooperation, sympathy, sacrifice, affection, spirit of selfless service, obedience and broadminded.
2) Insurance against olds:
Joint Family Acts as insurance for the members of the family at the time of crisis. It provides social
security to its members especially to the old, the infirm, the unemployed persons, the orphans, the
widowed daughters and sisters as well as the physical and mentally handicapped among them. For
all such persons the joint family acts as an insurance company.
3) Division of labour:
In a joint family each member is given work according to his or her capacity. The men, women and
children all have to work. For example, in a peasant joint family all the members work actively
according to their ability. The old persons and children of the family watch the crops in the field.
During the harvest season, the women in some families help in harvesting. This there is no need of
procuring labour from outside the family.
4) Socialism in Wealth:
According to Sir Henry Maine joint family is like a co-operative society with the father as the trustee.
Every member in the joint family works conforming to the well established socialist formula; each
works according to his or her ability and gets according to his or her needs.
5) Avoids fragmentation of land:
Joint family avoids the evils or fragmentation of land by holding the property in common. Joint
family is almost like a joint-stock company.
6) An agency of social control:
Another advantage of joint family is that it acts as an agency of social control. In joint family there is
a close supervision over the anti-social and unsocial activities of the young member.
7) Opportunity for leisure:
Joint family affords ample leisure to its members. Both the male and female members divide the
household works and finish it in a short time spending the rest of the day in leisure. They never feel
over burdened.
8) Money saving device:
Joint family is advantageous from the economic viewpoint. This system helps in securing economy in
expenditure. Since things are consumed in a large quantity they can be obtained at cheap rate. A
large family can be maintained within a small means if it lives jointly.