Anthropology short notes · Paper 1

2.4 Family: Definition and universality; Family, household and domestic groups; functions of family; Types of family (from the perspectives of structure, blood relation, marriage, residence and succession); Impact of urbanization, industrialization and feminist movements on family.

Short notes

Family

Family

Definition

Family is a site of sexual and labour exploitation.

Definition

Definition

Cultural Anthropology is the study of learned behaviour, beliefs, customs, traditions, institutions, and values of different human societies.

Example / case study

  • over-consumption of resources → karma teaches restraint.

Thinkers

  • 4. Evaluative Phase (1990–Present) (not Vidyarthi’s original)

Universality

Definition

Ethnicity refers to the manifestation of ethnic identity.

Household

Definition

Pioneer of village studies in India.

Example / case study

  • Supported by- 2011 census- Nuclear family fell from 54.3 to 52.3% mainly bcoz of space constraints.

Domestic Groups

Definition

Food preparation and consumption

Functions Of Family

Definition

Kindred refers to a unique type of kinship group that is defined from the perspective of a specific individual (referred to as Ego).

Types Of Family

Definition

Kindred refers to a unique type of kinship group that is defined from the perspective of a specific individual (referred to as Ego).

From The Perspectives Of Structure

Definition

→ Hence, family is a biological unit

Example / case study

  • A person is a Brahmin because he is born in a Brahmin family, follows certain rituals, inherits ritual purity.

Blood Relation

Definition

→ Hence, family is a biological unit

Example / case study

  • Nuclear Family: Parents and their immediate children.
  • Joint / Extended Family: Multiple generations (grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins) operating under a single kinship structure.

Thinkers

  • Radcliffe-Brown (Structural Functionalism): Opposed Kroeber; Argued that terminology and behaviour are closely linked.
  • Royalty practice – to preserve “pure blood” (e.g., European monarchs).

Marriage

Definition

Cultural Anthropology is the study of learned behaviour, beliefs, customs, traditions, institutions, and values of different human societies.

Thinkers

  • Philosophy for NEFA (1957) – Verrier Elwin

Residence

Definition

Kindred refers to a unique type of kinship group that is defined from the perspective of a specific individual (referred to as Ego).

Example / case study

  • Orangutans (studied by Biruté Galdikas).

Succession

Definition

Counter Views: Joint Family is Adapting

Impact Of Urbanization

Definition

They argue that family is an institution embedded with power relations.

Example / case study

  • cited: UK divorce rate increase 228% (BBC report)

Industrialization

Definition

Caste is always resilient and dynamic in society.

Thinkers

  • Yogendra Singh – Modernization of Indian Tradition

Feminist Movements On Family

Definition

The traditional family ideology is anti-social

Example / case study

  • cited: UK divorce rate increase 228% (BBC report)