Family Structure in India :

India,and the rest of the subcontinent , is unique as it accommodates both nuclear and joint families.A joint family, in which several generations live together, is common in India.

• Until recently , joint households were the norm; however, migration and urbanization are rapidly changing family structures.
• According to the census, out of 24.88 crore households,12.97 crore or 52.15 were nuclear households.
• The dissolution of joint families has made nuclear families increasingly common, changing women's relative position in a family and with respect to social security and care for elderly.

Family structure and position of women

Women in nuclear households enjoy greater decision-making power, greater freedom of movement outside the house premises and greater participation in jobs.

• Women's autonomy is differentiated by economic status , caste, household location. E.g. women in richer joint households have more autonomy in intra-household decision-making but less freedom of movement outside  the home. For women in poorer joint households,it is just the opposite; they have greater freedom of movement outside the home but less autonomy in intra-household decision-making.
• Geographic location of the household affects women's autonomy; women in joint households in northern India have less autonomy compared to their counter parts in southern India.Interestingly in the south, the effects of family structure on women's autonomy are weaker.
• The division of labour on the basis of sex is a characteristic of traditional family life in India.A women was supposed to do all sort of domestic works such as cooking,cleaning utensils, washing clothes, making list of grocery, expenditure of the household etc. besides she has to do motherly duties of looking after the children and the interests of all the members of the family.

However in recent times with the increasing education levels and the economic opportunities in wake of Globalization the socio-economic mobility of Indian women has increased.

Government now a days implementing various schemes and campaign to promote the position of women in a family. Whether  it is a joint family or nuclear family they should have their rights.There are schemes like Mahila E Haat, STEP [Support to Training and Employment Programme for WOMEN] ,Udyogini and some financial support schemes to make them self- reliant ,independent.Now the time has changed. Now every woman in this society can make their own choices. Other members of the family respect the position of the woman in the family. 

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