Many forms of the family have been described on the basis of different viewpoints, in sociology. Many distinctions in family have been based upon nature of residence, name of ancestory power, dominance of mother, etc.
1. Distinctions of family according to the nature of residence. The following distinctions of family are made according to the nature of residence.
(i) Matrilocalresidence
In this kind of a family the husband goes and lives in the home of the wife.
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(ii) PatriJocal residence
In this kind of a family the wife goes and lives in the home of their husband. Now-a-days most families conform to this type.
(iii) Changing residence
At some places it is customary for the husband and wife to alternate continuously between each other’s residences. One year the husband lives with the wife and the next year the wife lives with the husband.
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2. Distinctions of family on the basis of ancestry
The forms of the family are also classified on the basis of traditional ancestry. The main forms are:
(i) Matrilineal families
In these mother is the basis of ancestry. The woman is believed to be the prime ancestor of the family. Ancestral tradition and inheritance are affected through the mother. The rights of each member of the family depend on his relation to the mother, hence they are also known as the mother right families.
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(ii) Patrilineal families
In these families the ancestor of the family is the man and traditional ancestry continues through the father. Now-a-days this type of family is the most common.
3. Distinctions of family on the basis of authority.
(i) Matriarchal families-ln these mother wields the authority
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According to Maclver and Page, the actual administrative power is in masculine hands even in societies where the womenfolk are rulers. Hence, in their opinion the word matriarchal is misleading and should be replaced by the word maternal. Matriarchal families are to be found in the Nayar and Thiya castes of Kerala and Khasi and Garo tribes of Assam in India.
(ii) Patriarchal families
In tease the entire authority is in the hands of the father. In ancient Rome and Greece the patriarch used to be the absolute ruler.
4. Distinctions of family based on dominance.
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The following distinctions of family are based on the dominance of the mother or the father in the family.
(i) Matronymic.
In these the name of the family or ancestry is in the name of the mother, such as Gautami, Saumitra, etc.
(ii) Patronymic
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In these the family is named after the father.
5. Warner’s distinctions.
Warner has accepted the following two distinctions of family:
(i) Family of orientation. In which the individual is born.
(ii) Family of procreation. In which the individual marries and procreates.
6. Distinctions based on extension.
These distinctions of family are the following:
(i) Immediate family. This consists only of the mother, father and their children.
(ii) Conjugal family. In it the husband and wife live and sexual relations exist between them.
(iii) Extended family. In this, besides the wife and husband other relatives also live.
(iv) Consanguine family. In this live only those who are related in blood, such as brother, sister, father, son, etc. In the Nayer families of Malabar, the husband does not conduct his wife to his house after marriage and the daughter, though married, remains in her fahter’s house.
7. Distinctions of family on the basis of marriage.
On the basis of marriage also many distinctions of family have been made. The major forms among them are:
(i) PolygynoUs or polygamous family. In this one man marries many women and lives in a family with his wife and children.
(ii) Polyandrous family. In this one woman marries many men and lives in a family with all of them or with each of them alternatively.
(iii) Mongamousfamily. In this one man marries only one woman and establishes a family.